On February 11, the Manitoba government announced further changes to Manitoba’s public health orders that loosen most restrictions and put in place a plan to remove vaccination and mask requirements as early as March.
The revised restrictions included:
- -Removing restrictions on private indoor and outdoor gatherings if all are fully vaccinated (youth aged 12 and under are exempt);
- -Removing capacity limits on indoor and outdoor sporting and recreation events;
- -Removing capacity limits for large group gatherings with proof of immunization;
- -gyms, movie theatres, museums and libraries can return to full capacity with proof of immunization; and
- -restaurants and licensed premises can return to full capacity with proof of immunization required.
The province plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements effective March 1 and mas requirements and other restrictions are expected to be lifted effective March 15.
The orders took effect on Tuesday, February 15 at 12:01 a.m. and expire on March 1, 2022. The updated orders move the Pandemic Response System to Caution (Yellow).
For more information on the new public health orders, click here.
Testing Guidance:
Individuals who test positive with a Rapid Antigen Test should assume they have COVID-19 and do not need to get a follow up PCR test to confirm, unless they fall into a specific high risk group or hold a front line responder/health care position. For full details and the list of who must still get a PCR test, please see the link here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/testing-eligibility.html
Self-isolation
As of February 15, close contacts of a person who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to self-isolate. Public health continues to recommend self-isolation for people who live in a household with others who have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 but it will no longer be required.
Additionally, public health will remove self-isolation requirements for individuals entering the province. However, anyone travelling from international destinations will continue to be required to meet requirements under the federal Quarantine Act. Public health orders restricting travel to Northern Manitoba remain in place.
Full details can be found here: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/fundamentals/self-isolation.html.
Impact on Residential Construction:
Collectively, Manitoba’s residential construction industry must continue to take as many preventative measures as possible to help protect their employees and help ensure business continuity against COVID-19.
The MHBA recommends that all members continue to implement these fundamental measures, whether in your offices, showrooms, worksites or show homes.
Show Home Operations:
All builders with show homes are required to ensure all visitors wear masks while inside their show homes.
Additionally, the MHBA is recommending all members to continue implementing the show home health measures in effect for our 2022 Spring Parade of Homes to best protect visitors and your sales agents.
These include:
- -Limit the number of people in the show home to a maximum of 8 people (excluding the sales agent) at a time;
- -Ensure the proper pre-screening of all visitors is being done by having them complete/answer the pre-screening declaration form questions;
- -Ensure all visitors properly sanitize their hands upon entry;
- -Keep visits to no longer than 15-20 minutes; and
- -Sanitize high touch areas of the show homes frequently.
Further information and the pre-screening declaration form can be found here.
Preventative Measures:
The MHBA reminds members that your continued vigilance in taking the appropriate steps to ensure proper preventative measures are vitally important at this time. All Manitobans 12 years of age and older are eligible to be vaccinated, so please encourage your staff to consider getting fully vaccinated (including boosters) as soon as possible if they have not already done so.
The MHBA recommends that all members continue to implement these fundamental measures, whether in your offices, showrooms, worksites or show homes.
- -Remember the fundamentals! If any employee or trade has any flu-like symptoms, no matter how minor, have them stay home;
- -Return to limiting the number of trades working at one time on your worksites and have your trades strictly adhere to this directive;
- -Refresh your onsite signage regarding mask wearing and employee screening as a reminder for all staff to remember the fundamentals while on the worksite;
- -Renovator and builder members should ensure work crews/warranty and service teams are implementing a customer pre-screening process before working in occupied homes;
- -Practice social distancing measures in all of your workplaces and worksites;
- -Keep hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes stocked and available if possible;
- -Have workers sanitize their hands frequently during the day;
- -Disinfect frequently used surfaces (Door knobs, countertops, handrails, etc.) on a regular basis;
- -Post signage at entrances to worksites, your business and show home/rooms asking those who have recently travelled internationally or those who have any flu-like symptoms to not enter;
- -Avoid greetings that involve touching, including shaking hands;
- -Wash your hands properly and frequently; and
- -Provide disposable towels/napkins should people wash their hands in your show home/workplace. Please do not use reusable (regular) towels in your bathrooms.