Manitoba moves into ‘critical’ COVID territory, imposes strict lockdowns to take effect on Thursday

Manitoba goes into lockdown Thursday, escalating from “restricted” to “critical” on its pandemic severity scale, as it bans social gatherings and restricts travel, trying to contain COVID numbers that are surging across the province.

Schools will remain open, but religious services will be closed, and non-essential businesses will be restricted to curbside pick up or delivery. Essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies can operate only at 25 per cent capacity.

Gyms, restaurants, sports facilities, libraries, casinos, museums and movie theatres will be shuttered in the lockdown that will be in place at least four weeks, or two incubation periods.

Non-essential travel is discouraged and will be restricted in the north.

Positivity rates exceed ten per cent over the last five days, and 383 cases were tallied in the Tuesday morning update. Manitoba’s recent spike has made its per capita case load the highest of any province.