Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced 98 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate up to 4.1 percent.  He also announced one additional death in the Winnipeg region. Of the new cases 51 are in the Northern health region and 37 in Winnipeg region with single digits in other regions. He noted one additional confirmed case of the B1.1.7 variant of concern has been found in Winnipeg region related to travel. 

Roussin also reported people in their household group seated at a religious service will no longer have to wear masks if they’re distancing and not singing.  He explained we have such a decreased capacity in venues that if you’re distanced within that family unit and not singing there’s really low risk to remove that mask so they thought it would be appropriate to remove that requirement.

He said they will also allow outdoor dining on patios at restaurants and licensed premises at 50 percent capacity with up to six people from different households at a table.