Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living Cameron Friesen says that while public health orders and the state of emergency often go "hand in hand" they are quite different.

Yesterday's third extension of the state of emergency, according to Friesen, the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living, is more of an "insurance policy" allowing them to respond quickly to changing situations.

"We know we are going to need to learn to live with COVID-19 and live with a certain amount of risk but within that context the State of Emergency allows us to undertake some things more quickly," Friesen says.

Friesen adds that the state of emergency is used to allow the province to make quick decisions, such as suspending marriage license fees and prohibiting long-term care facility workers from working in more than one facility.

The state of emergency is allowing the province to make decisions regarding finances, creating childcare license exemptions, and other regulations. 

"One thing Manitobans are probably more familiar are the public health orders. Those are the guidelines we put in place for things like the gathering levels...the need to self-isolate... all those kinds of things are governed by what we call our public health orders."

Friesen says that while often pairing with a state of emergency, public health orders are quite different.

"They are two separate animals," Friesen says.

He says the state of emergency is a time-sensitive entity that helps the government respond and make decisions, whereas the public health orders are guidelines for the public to follow.

The state of emergency's expiration on July 15 means by that date at four p.m. the Government of Manitoba will revert back to its original powers.

Public health orders currently in place at that time will remain in effect, and Phase 3 planning is still underway.

Those wishing to give feedback on Phase 3 plans are invited to take an online survey from the Government of Manitoba.