Tougher COVID-19 health restrictions began today in Manitoba to try and limit the spread of the virus and its variants – and prevent a strain on the health system.
The stricter rules include no visitors at your home, inside or out, unless you live alone and then you get one visitor. The province is also tightening restrictions on churches, shopping malls, retail stores and gyms.
Restaurant patios, however, are a different animal. The province will allow 4 people from different households to dine at an outdoor patio, and this has many Manitobans asking what gives?
Manitoba’s top doctor Brent Roussin says patios limit gatherings and “they’re also controlled, they’re distanced. So, you know right now that’s where we’re focusing on – is where we see a lot of the transmission and that’s in private residences.”
Restaurants are also tasked with getting patrons’ names for contact tracing, they monitor how long people are together at a table, and when not at the table, people are still required to mask up.
Health officials warn, even though the numbers show being outside is safer, about 10% of COVID-19 cases are still contracted outdoors.
