The Province has announced mandatory closures and restrictions on all businesses deemed as non-critical as 24 additional cases of COVID-19 were announced Monday, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases to 96 in Manitoba.

"We're seeing the on-going transmission of this virus in other jurisdictions, we're seeing the community-based transmission... so we need to continue to adapt our response to this virus," Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's Chief Provincial Public Health Officer explains says. "We need to continue to escalate our social distancing recommendations and all our measures to protect ourselves, protect others, protect our communities, protect our healthcare workers."

All businesses that are not listed in the schedule of critical services must close between April 1 and April 14.

Closures now required: Examples: Restaurants, fitness centres, yoga studios, garden supply stores, sporting goods stores, hair salons/barbers, personal services.

Not required to close: Examples: Grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, hotels/motels, realtors, residential/commercial contractors, lawn care, veterinarian/ kennels, food banks, manufacturers, Businesses that supply goods/services to manufacturers, municipal government, publicly funded health care operations/services (hospitals, home care, counselling), Mail/parcel services. 

Closures required, but with exceptions to provide urgent and emergency care: Examples: dentists, optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors.

"These measures are yet another step to limit the transmission of this virus and flatten that curve," Roussin adds.Non-critical businesses must be closed between 12:01 a.m on April 1 to 12:01 a.m April 14.

The order doesn't apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided.

The closure order does not prevent these businesses from operating on a remote basis. It also doesn't prevent businesses from operating remotely such as providing goods via pick-up or delivery like food being sold for delivery or takeout.

“Manitobans have always pulled together in a time of crisis and this is no different,” Premier Brian Pallister says.  “We must continue to do whatever we can to support each other.”

Meanwhile, effective Monday public gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. This does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters. This remains in effect at this time under the previous health order issued on March 27, and will continue when this order comes into effect on April 1.

"This is how we beat this," Pallister adds.

As of Monday, March 30, four individuals are currently hospitalized, one is currently in intensive care.

Manitoba has recorded one death related to COVID-19.

Two individuals have recovered from COVID-19.

Go to the following website for continuous updates: https://engagemb.ca/