New public health orders aimed at limiting public gatherings are going into effect in Manitoba on Tuesday. Manitoba's top doctor and Premier Heather Stefanson announced the new public health orders Monday afternoon at a press conference.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer, says that effective Tuesday, public gatherings for vaccinated people must not exceed 50 per cent, or 250 people, whichever is less. That includes restaurants, sporting events, bars, and more.

Stefanson says that the province's number one priority "continues to be protecting the health of all Manitobans." She says she's grateful to Manitobans who altered or cancelled holiday plans.

"As we forecasted last week we're seeing increased daily COVID numbers," Roussin says. That's resulted in an increase in testing and has meant a delay in test results. That means, he says, that the daily case totals being reported is substantially underreported. The province announced 2,154 new cases since Christmas Eve on Monday.

Roussin says about 75 per cent of new cases are the new Omicron variant. He says the province will quit reporting Omicron case numbers as a result. While there are many reports from other jurisdictions of Omicron being less severe the province still needs to take action to prevent an increased demand on the health system, Roussin says.

“Over the last week, case numbers have increased sharply, and we must again take steps to reduce the spread of the virus to help protect Manitoba’s health-care system,” says Stefanson. “As we approach the new year – a time that is usually filled with celebration – we are urging Manitobans to limit your close contacts at this crucial time in our fight against COVID-19. We all have a role to play, and we encourage everyone get fully vaccinated, including a third dose when eligible, follow the public health orders and focus on the fundamentals.”

“We know these changes will affect the plans of many people, but we must put them in place now to reduce the possible spread of the virus over the rest of the holiday season,” says Roussin. “Thousands of Manitobans have been vaccinated and continue follow the public health orders and we thank you for that, but these changes are necessary right now to reduce the risk of severe illness and to support our health-care system.”

Liquor sales at restaurants and licensed premises must end at 10 p.m. daily.

The capacity limits announced Monday include:

• indoor and outdoor public gatherings;
• restaurants, licensed premises, food courts and socials;
• movie theatre and concert halls;
• performing arts venues and outdoor ticketed performing arts events;
• museums and art galleries;
• outdoor and indoor sporting and recreational facilities including dance schools and martial arts studios;
• gyms, fitness centres and yoga studios;
• indoor and outdoor ticketed sporting events;
• indoor recreational businesses;
• seasonal facilities and events;
• religious services and Indigenous cultural events; and
• bingos, casinos and businesses with VLTs.

The new orders come into effect on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 12:01 a.m. and will expire on Jan. 11, 2022.