Manitoba Government Updates Its Phase 2 Reopening Plan, No Date Set for Phase 2

Manitoba began its reopening on May 4, 2020 with Phase 1. This allowed non-essential businesses to reopen as well as restaurant patios.

The Manitoba Government has now updated its Phase 2 plan to allow more places to open. There is no date set yet for Phase 2… but if we continue the trend of ‘no new cases of COVID-19’ then we can expect to be dining in restaurants very soon.

Restaurants

Change: Indoor capacity allowed at 50 per cent of site capacity.

Occupancy limits of 50 per cent or normal business levels remain, as long as tables and seating are arranged so that there is at least a two-metre separation between persons sitting at different tables.

Restaurants may reopen patios and indoor spaces at 50 per cent capacity, as long as tables and seating are arranged so that there is at least a two-metre separation between persons sitting at different tables.

Restaurants must implement measures to ensure that members of the public when not seated are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

 

Bars, Beverage Rooms, Brew Pubs, Micro-Brewers and Distilleries

Change: Patios and indoor spaces are allowed to operate at 50 per cent of site capacity.

Bars, beverage rooms, micro-brewers and similar businesses that serve food and drinks may operate patio service at 50 per cent of site capacity and may reopen indoor spaces at 50 per cent capacity, as long as tables and seating are arranged so that there is at least a two-metre separation between persons sitting at different tables.

These businesses must implement measures to ensure that members of the public are seated at a table, and are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

Dance floors and other common activity areas, such as pool tables, dartboards and video lottery terminals are to remain closed.

Personal Services Businesses

Change: Re-opening of manicurists and pedicurists, tattoo parlours, estheticians, cosmetologists, electrologists and tanning parlours.

Occupancy limits of 50 per cent of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres will be in place. Manicurists and pedicurists, tattoo parlours, estheticians, cosmetologists, electrologists and tanning parlours may reopen if they implement measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

The following guidelines should be followed by patrons, volunteers and staff at outdoor recreation facilities:

• Staff shall undertake self-screening before they attend work and are to stay home when ill with COVID-19 symptoms. https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/.
• Inform clients that they are not allowed service if they are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms.
• Screen all clients upon entry, and confirm that they are not experiencing any symptoms. People identified as symptomatic should be instructed to call Health Links – Info Santé.
• Appointment times should be staggered to allow physical distancing, and clients should attend alone, without friends or family.
• Provide pre-booked appointments only.
• Clients must clean their hands by using hand sanitizer or washing their hands upon entry to the facility and upon leaving. Equip the entry of facility with hand sanitizer station or hand-wash station.
• Both service providers and customers may wear non-medical masks, particularly when close touch or contact is involved.
• Service providers may wear protective gloves and aprons when providing service, particularly when close touch or contact is involved.
• Staff should wash hands thoroughly before and after each client, and during times of re-gloving hand sanitizer must be used.
• Staff must clean their hands by washing or using hand sanitizer, after cleaning and sanitizing their work space, equipment, instruments, other work related materials, after going to the washroom, prior to preparing food or eating and when they are leaving work.
• Maintain a minimum two metre separation between individuals within the establishment, except for brief exchanges and while performing the service.
• Educate staff on physical distancing.
• For personal services to the face where the client is unable to wear a non-medical mask, employees should wear a medical mask (surgical/procedural mask or N-95 or N-95 equivalent mask). If using a N-95 or equivalent mask, they must be properly fit-tested as per CSA standard.
  • In addition, consider other options to have the client remove their face covering for brief periods during the service and positioning the employee so they can avoid being directly face-to-face across from the client (e.g. position to side of client).
• Businesses must maintain a single point of entry.
• Businesses must post external signs indicating COVID-19 physical distancing protocols, along with floor markings where services are offered or lines form.
• Entry into the business, including lines and waiting areas, are regulated to prevent congestion.
• Floor markers may be installed to maintain the two metre separation.
• Equipment, instruments and material that cannot be disinfected between clients cannot be reused.
• All surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized between clients.
• All common touch surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized with Health Canada approved disinfectant that kills viruses, including coronaviruses.
• Washrooms must have frequent cleaning and sanitization and a regime for business sanitization is in place.
• Magazine racks and toys should be removed and play areas in waiting rooms should be closed.
• Onsite snack bars, coffee bars and other confectionery style counters should be closed.
• Cashless or no-contact payment should be used to the greatest extent possible.

Outdoor Drive-in Events

Religious or other organizations, as well as drive-in movie theatres may hold outdoor events without limitation on numbers if people stay in their vehicles, or outside on the left side of their vehicles, and as long as people remain two metres apart at all times. The use of indoor facilities, such as washrooms, must be limited to no more than 25 people at any one time.

The following guidelines should be followed by patrons, volunteers and staff:

• Physical distancing must be observed at all times when outside the vehicle for essential purposes, such as to use the washroom, with a minimum of two metres between individuals when outside of their vehicles.
• Vehicles must be separated by a minimum of two metres.
• Windows and sunroofs may be open; doors and trunks should remain closed.
• Only individuals from the same household may occupy the same vehicle.
• If staff or volunteers are required to have contact with any equipment (e.g. speaker), the equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
• Access to washroom facilities must be limited.
• Where washroom access is provided, frequent cleaning and disinfection must take place before, during and after the service.
• Physical distancing of two metres must be maintained for those waiting for washroom facilities.
• Food/concession services that are provided should follow applicable restaurant guidelines.
• Where possible, payments should be accepted through contactless methods
• All other services and common areas must be suspended, including picnic areas and play areas.
• Employees must have access to soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for hand hygiene, as well as appropriate cleaner and disinfectants.
• Employees and volunteers are required to stay home if they are sick or symptomatic.
• Patrons should be reminded that anyone who is feeling sick or symptomatic must remain at home, even if they stay in their vehicle at all times.

Outoor Visits in Personal Care and Long-Term Care Settings

Residents in these facilities may receive visitors in an outdoor setting where all individuals are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others.

Child Care Services

Change: Sites can increase to a maximum of 24 children plus staffing.

Centres can consider accommodating a single room group of up to 24 children plus staffing or more than one grouping of 24 children plus staffing in multiple and separate rooms, provided each group has separate entrances/exits, and/or staggered drop off schedules from a common facility entrance, and will not be congregating in a larger common space. Families who have accessed a child care space under the temporary child care program as a critical service worker or as part of the re-opening of the economy will not be displaced from their placement until full resumption of child care services.

Schools

Change: Facility use at schools permitted.

Classroom learning will remain suspended for the remainder of the school year. However, schools are now open for staff and specific programs. As well, students will be able to meet with teachers for the purpose of assessment and planning for the resumption of classes in September.

Limited access to school facilities will continue to be permitted in settings where physical distancing can be maintained, including:

• Indoor occupancy limits of 50 per cent of normal occupancy levels or one person per 10 square metres will be in place.

Teachers and students may meet in small group or one-on-one settings to conduct student assessments, provide clinical supports, administer recovery and remedial learning plans and provide therapeutic services.

• Day camps and summer programming may operate.
• Scheduled students can access school Wi-Fi and/or computer equipment.
• Counselling access and emergency phone access may be provided for students.
• The use of outdoor facilities and playgrounds is encouraged.

Remote learning continues but will wind down throughout June as student assessment and transition planning begins. This planning may be done remotely or in person depending on local needs and individual considerations.

For use of schools during day camps, summer programming and library use, the maximum number of children permitted per site is 24. However, multiple groups of 24 can be segregated to prevent contact throughout the day with other groups through the use of separate exits, staggered drop-off schedules and by monitoring access to the facility to avoid congestion.

A separate entrance to the facility or staggered hours should be established for each limited use purpose wherever possible. Washrooms and lunchrooms must have frequent sanitization and should be monitored to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Sharing of items, including food and drink containers should be avoided to the greatest extent possible. Students must bring their own lunches or provided lunches must be individually wrapped in disposable containers.

To ensure students safely and effectively transition to the new school year on a solid foundation, additional teaching days are proposed for the upcoming school year, including starting schools on August 31st, 2020 and re-purposing some of the non-instructional days throughout the school year. The department will continue planning and consulting with school divisions and other education stakeholders.

Day Camps

Change: Group size increased to 24

Day camps may continue to operate if they maintain occupancy and activity levels that allow people to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres, except for brief exchanges. The maximum number of children per group is 24. Overnight camps are not permitted in Phase Two.

Team Sports

Change: Sports may resume activities.

Organized activities can resume as long as precautions are taken, such as physical distancing and enhanced cleaning of equipment and indoor spaces. Each sports organization and/or facility must establish a plan for how to minimize physical contact between participants. Outdoor activities are lower risk for transmission of COVID-19 than indoor activities. Guidance on performing a risk assessment for different sports and establishing plans will be posted online as soon as possible.

All activities will require some modification from their usual operations; however, individual or group activities that have close prolonged face to face contact (e.g. boxing, football) are higher risk, and will require some modification of the sport or activity to minimize this type of contact.

Non-participating members of the public attending the activities must be reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from other members of the public.

The following guidelines should be followed by participants, volunteers and staff:

• Consider how to adapt activities to take place outdoors when possible.
• Staff and volunteers must use the self-screening tool before reporting, and should stay home when ill.
• Participants must be screened for symptoms prior to participation each day of the activity, and are not allowed to participate if they are ill with COVID-19 symptoms.
• If indoors, hand hygiene stations should be placed at the entrance and strategically throughout the facility.
• Shared equipment must be cleaned frequently. This can be done by participants, but staff should ensure this is being done regularly.
• Staff and participants are given information on social distancing. Indoor facilities must post signs indicating physical distancing guidelines. Staff should discourage congregation.
• Ensure enhanced cleaning of indoor facilities, particularly washrooms.
• Encourage individuals to shower at home and limit use of locker area.
• Remove any common use items from locker rooms.
• Post signage for guidance on shower area use to maintain physical distancing .
• If locker rooms are used, consider modifying their use in order to maintain physical distancing.
• As well, a disinfectant spray or wipes should be available for participants to disinfect locker contact surfaces before and after use.
• Enhanced and frequent cleaning and disinfection of locker rooms will be required.
• Areas of congregation (e.g. team benches, pool edges) will require creative solutions to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. This can be done in consultation with provincial and national sport-specific COVID-19 guidance, where applicable.

Outdoor Recreation Facilities and Golf Courses

Change: Access to indoor facilities allowed.

Facilities may operate at normal capacity outdoors if the organization implements measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges. Indoor occupancy limits of 50 per cent of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres will be in place.

The following guidelines should be followed by patrons, volunteers and staff at outdoor recreation facilities:

• Develop site specific plans, which should include enhanced/frequent cleaning and disinfection for bathroom facilities and any indoor space where congregation occurs.
• Discourage attendance by staff and participants at higher risk of experiencing severe illness.
• Manage entry to ensure that physical distancing is maintained and provide staff to monitor line-ups, maintain physical distancing and discourage congregations.
• Display prominent public health messaging (e.g. frequent hand washing, stay home if you’re sick and maintaining physical distancing).
• Promote awareness and support staff to stay at home if sick. Consider a daily screening questionnaire for staff, and possibly patrons.
• Do not share equipment that cannot be disinfected between riders/users.
• Recreational areas that have high-touch services (e.g., railings, safety bars, seat belts, tables, etc.) which cannot easily be disinfected between each rider/user should remain closed.
• Follow appropriate physical distancing guidelines at all times.
• Where possible ensure contactless form of payment.
• Food services should follow applicable restaurant guidelines.

The following guidelines should be followed by patrons, volunteers and staff at golf courses:

• Follow Phase One guidelines as per Manitoba’s Recovering Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for Recovery.
• Discourage use of or close locker rooms. If used, limit time in locker room and stagger entry times for groups.
• Encourage individuals to shower at home and limit use of locker area.
• Remove any common use items from locker rooms.
• Post signage for guidance on shower area use to maintain physical distancing .
• If locker rooms are used, consider modifying their use in order to maintain physical distancing.
• As well, a disinfectant spray or wipes should be available for participants to disinfect locker contact surfaces before and after use.
• Enhanced and frequent cleaning and disinfection of locker rooms will be required.

Travel to Northern Parks, Campgrounds, Cabins, Lodges and Resorts

Change: Travel restrictions revised.

Manitoba residents will be permitted to travel directly to parks, campgrounds, cabins, lodges and resorts north of the 53rd parallel from within Manitoba.

Travellers are to follow the same guidelines in place for Manitobans travelling to a cottage or second residence, including:

• Do not travel if you or any of your family members require medical care or have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing). If you have any symptoms, use the screening tool before you travel to see if you need to be tested.
• If you or anyone with you begins to feel ill or experiences COVID-19 symptoms, return home immediately.
• Do not use local health providers, unless it is an emergency.
• In the event of a medical emergency requiring evacuation, be sure you can contact local authorities. Emergency contact information varies by region. Ensure you collect and take this information with you before you leave home.
• Bring required prescription drugs and medical supplies.
• Avoid visiting local communities, including First Nations communities, as much as possible.

Travellers should also respectfully observe local restrictions and practice physical distancing if it is necessary to visit local communities and First Nations communities, or use curbside pickup if it is necessary to visit local businesses.

Public/Private Swimming Pools, Splash Parks, Spas, Fitness Clubs, Gyms and Training Facilities

Change: Sites may reopen with capacity limitations.

Public/Private indoor and outdoor swimming pools (private residential pools are not restricted), spas, fitness clubs and gyms may reopen if they implement measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges.

These organizations are required to limit occupancy to 50 per cent of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres, whichever is lower. Group lessons may restart and locker rooms and showers (for pool facilities only) may reopen if people maintain a distance of at least two metres, except for brief exchanges. Any of these facilities affiliated with a professional sports team may not be open to the public.

The following guidelines should be followed by patrons, volunteers and staff:

Gyms/Exercise/Training Facilities, Pools and Rinks

• Patrons at higher risk of serious illness may consider waiting to return to these facilities.
• Each facility should have a site plan for procedures.
• Guidelines for facility entry include:
  • managing entry points to maintain physical distancing and ensure staff are present to control access. Discourage congregation within the facility;
  • using a booking system to reserve a block of time in advance, with time for cleaning and disinfecting of equipment by staff between blocks;
  • discouraging drop-in use. Establish measures to avoid groups congregating at entry for start times for classes/general use;
  • using contactless forms of payment; and
  • screening all patrons for symptoms and exposures using the screening posters or the online screening tool.

  Guidelines for exercise spaces and equipment include:

  • ensuring signage is posted for physical distancing and instructions on cleaning equipment;
  • making hand hygiene stations available at entry and throughout facility;
  • not offering towel services.
  • cleaning equipment before and after using it. Ensure instructions and mechanisms in place for patrons to clean equipment safely. Gym staff should ensure thorough cleaning between blocks of gym use; and
  • increasing space between machines (or block off every other machine) to stay at minimum two metres apart.

Guidelines for pools include:

• closing saunas and steam rooms , and only opening hot tubs if they can comply with guidelines of one person per 10 square metres;
• ensuring signage is posted for physical distancing;
• using staggered entry times for different groups; and
• separate staff monitoring physical distancing and capacity in addition to lifeguards (if present).

Guidelines for locker room/washroom facilities include:

• discouraging use of or close locker rooms. If used, limit time in locker room and stagger entry times for groups;
• considering blocking off every few lockers to allow for physical distancing. Staff should be available to monitor locker room use. Patrons should be encouraged to change beforehand and bring as few personal items as possible;
• disinfecting locker contact surfaces before and after use;
• removing any common-use items from the locker rooms;
• enhancing cleaning and disinfecting for locker rooms and bathroom facilities;
• encouraging patrons to shower at home and limit use of locker area; and
• posting signage for guidance on shower area use to maintain physical distancing.

Guidelines for group classes include:

• continuing to offer virtual classes or training where possible;
• allowing group exercise classes if physical distancing of one participant per two square metres is maintained throughout the class;
• allowing adequate time to disinfect equipment and surfaces before each class; and
• not using shared equipment unless able to disinfect between users. Equipment that is difficult to clean, such as foam rollers and yoga blocks, should not be used.
• Close group sports areas/courts that are not able to comply with guidelines for recreational sports.
• Food service should follow restaurant guidelines.
• Close customer self-serve drink stations, water dispensers, and water fountains, unless able to disinfect between use. Ensure other options available for water for patrons. Staff can fill drink orders, but must not refill a used cup. Encourage patrons to bring their own bottled water.

Community/Services Centres

Change: Sites may reopen with capacity limitations.

• Community centres can be reopened if they are used for classes and activities allowed in Phase Two and follow specific guidelines for the type of use.
• Staff must be present at the entry to the facility, as well as within the facility, to monitor use and capacity. Use one entrance only.
• The maximum number of people permitted per site is 25, except where discrete groups of 25 can be segregated to prevent contact with other groups through the use of separate exits and/or staggered drop off schedules and monitoring access to the facility to avoid congestion.
• General guidance on physical distancing and disinfection/cleaning measures after each group must be followed.
• Discourage drop-in use where feasible due to difficulty monitoring numbers of people and ensuring physical distancing. If drop-ins required based on community needs, establish measures to avoid congregation and establish process to monitor capacity.
• Individuals at higher risk of serious illness may consider waiting to return to these facilities. Group activities for higher risk groups (e.g. seniors) is discouraged where non-essential.

Film Production

Change: Productions may resume operations.

Film productions may resume operations if they implement measures to ensure that the cast, employees and members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges. These productions must adhere to all provincial and federal travel restrictions. Guidance on performing a risk assessment for film productions and establishing plans will be posted online as soon as possible.