Restaurant dining rooms close as Winnipeg region moves to critical level, rest of Manitoba moves to restricted

Manitoba has moved its capital area to the red, or critical, level following record-high reports of COVID-19 case numbers.

Effective Monday, Nov. 2, the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region will move to the critical level (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. The Southern Health–Santé Sud, Prairie Mountain Health and Interlake–Eastern health regions will move to the restricted level (orange). The Northern health region moved to the Restricted level (orange) on Oct. 26.

In the Winnipeg region, restaurants and other public food establishments, bars, beverage rooms, brew pubs, micro-breweries and distilleries are required to close to in-person dining. Take-out, delivery and drive-thru services may continue.

In the restricted (orange) areas outside of Winnipeg, these restrictions to restaurants and other public food establishments, bars, beverage rooms, brew pubs, micro-breweries and distilleries apply:
• Table/group sizes limited to five.
• Capacity limited to 50 per cent.
• No alcohol is to be served after 10 p.m. and the site must close at 11 p.m.
• Noise levels are limited to 80 decibels.
• Patrons must be screened for symptoms of COVID-19.
• Contact information must be collected for all attendees/patrons.
• Patrons must remain at their table except in specific circumstances.

The chief provincial public health officer urges Manitobans to not socialize with people from outside their household, to cut down the number of close contacts and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces.

The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba was at 6,034.

The data shows 3,255 active cases and 2,704 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; 120 people are in hospital and 18 people are in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 75

According to a statement by Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin on Friday, the new measures will be in place for at least two weeks.