Province bows to demands to slow down reopening Quarantine order to remain in effect for eastern Canadians
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/07/2020 (1620 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A provincially mandated self-isolation order on travellers from eastern provinces will stay in place — at least in the short term — after the government got an earful from Manitobans.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen said the provincial government will not remove the 14-day quarantine period for travellers to Manitoba from communities east of Terrace Bay, Ont., in the next phase of its reopening plan, which takes effect July 25.
“The No. 1 area in which (Manitobans) expressed concern was the reopening, the lifting of restrictions for travel from outside Manitoba,” Friesen said Thursday at a news conference with chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin.
“When we look back a few weeks ago, it looked like there was a strong case for opening… we still intend to do that, just now is not clearly that time,” he said.
A public consultation process launched 48 hours earlier on the proposed Phase 4 plan — which called for the end to the quarantine requirement — received more than 47,000 responses, the government said.
A total of 24,300 surveys were filled out and more than 23,100 people participated in a telephone town hall with Friesen and Roussin Wednesday.
The government promised to release a data analysis of the survey after Phase 4 takes effect.
Earlier this week, Premier Brian Pallister urged residents to not “live our lives in fear” and he provided assurance that travel restrictions could be removed safely. On Thursday, Friesen said Manitobans didn’t agree.
“If there was a theme in particular that was resonating, it was that there was not an appetite at this point in time to do away with the 14-day isolation requirement for Eastern Canada,” he said.
NDP Leader Wab Kinew said Manitobans “let the government have it” by sharing their opinions on the proposal, and said economic activity can be restored without relying on travel.
“I think it’s great that Manitobans really talked some common sense into this government,” Kinew said. “The government has other tools at their disposal. They can fix this broken rent-relief program, they can get the paid sick-leave provision passed through the house.”
Manitoba will allow indoor visits at personal care homes as outlined in the draft plan. Restrictions on movie theatres, faith and cultural gatherings, and casinos will be lifted, though not as ambitiously as proposed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3eY2c2WsbE
Capacity for faith-based services and cultural events will stay at 30 per cent, but will not require being broken up into small groups. Theatres and cinemas can offer programs, but at 30 per cent of capacity, topping out at 500 people. Casinos can open at 30 per cent capacity and retail businesses and indoor recreation sites can use non-permeable barriers, when a distance of two metres between people is not possible.
Proposals to increase gathering sizes to 75 people indoors and 250 people outdoors, and allow walk-up counter service at bars have been put on hold.
Public health will review the restrictions on a weekly basis, Friesen said.
Rules for CFL players
Manitoba’s chief public health officer has clarified the self-isolation rules for Canadian Football League players, should the league play its season in Winnipeg this year.
Dr. Brent Roussin said players will, in fact, be tested before they leave their various jurisdictions and come to Manitoba.
They will also be tested again on their first day in Winnipeg, on their sixth day here and on their 13th day here, he said.
Manitoba’s chief public health officer has clarified the self-isolation rules for Canadian Football League players, should the league play its season in Winnipeg this year.
Dr. Brent Roussin said players will, in fact, be tested before they leave their various jurisdictions and come to Manitoba.
They will also be tested again on their first day in Winnipeg, on their sixth day here and on their 13th day here, he said.
Roussin said players will be required to self-isolate for 14 days before coming to Winnipeg. Once here, they will have to undergo an additional seven days of self-isolation before they can participate in team activities.
Asked how officials can ensure that a player in Florida or Texas is self-isolating, Roussin replied: “Remember that we have 49 active cases right now that need to self-isolate and we don’t have people standing outside their doors watching.”
He added that “there’s a lot riding on it” for players and teams to ensure that the bubble they would be living in is COVID-free. “That’s what we’re relying on,” he said.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen said the CFL has a “robust plan” to prevent the spread of the virus.
He noted that CFL players, coaches and staff would stay in hotels that are closed to the public.
Fans will not be allowed in the stands, he said.
If any players violate the rules, Friesen said, they will be sent home.
Roussin said recent rising case numbers in Manitoba, Eastern Canada, and many other provinces put a damper on lifting self-isolation requirements. Travel from Western Canada, however, will remain unrestricted though virus activity has increased.
“It is a little different reimposing restrictions, which can be done and will be done if we see fit, rather than not moving forward with something that’s still uncertain now,” he said.
The imminent changes are welcome, said Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Loren Remillard.
Remillard called for the removal of travel restrictions to be considered as part of the next phase after the chamber received significant feedback from its members — mainly, that the public was not ready for increased travel to the province, whether or not the science supported it.
“Consumer confidence is shaping their behaviour. If there’s a particular measure that some people are uncomfortable with, even though the science may say this is a perfectly good initiative to proceed with… that could potentially set us back in terms of expanding economic activity,” he said.
In a statement, the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association said the group supports the revisions to the reopening strategy.
“While we were disappointed to see the deferment of some of Phase 4’s initially proposed plans such as walk-up services at bars and increased gathering sizes, we understand that the safety of Manitobans comes first and the gradual and safe reopening of services is necessary,” the statement said.
Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries said it intends to open its two casinos and Shark Club Gaming Centre on Wednesday. South Beach Casino and Sand Hills Casino intend to open Saturday.
— with files from Malak Abas
danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
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