Photo: Unsplash, by Julian Wan.
Manitoba
On March 23rd, 2021 the province of Manitoba announced some revisions to the red restrictions that are
to expire on March 25, 2021. Changes to the Public Health Orders effective March 26, 2021 at 12: 01 a.m.
that will most directly effect faith-based communities are:
the increase in numbers attending weddings and funerals to twenty five people in addition to the officiant and photographer or videographer;
increase in numbers for any outdoor gatherings to twenty five people and permission for those attending
Drive-In services to be out of their vehicles following all other COVID restrictions.
No changes were made to numbers and restrictions around regular worship (limit still 25% of capacity or 100 people whichever is less when adhering to social distancing, masking and all other related protocols.)
These changes effect until April 15, 2021 in all areas of the province except some Indigenous communities which may have their own additional restrictions. Other than for regular worship, access to churches is limited to use for schools, health care, child care and social services i.e. food banks. Access for taping of virtual services is permitted. Some faith based communities are still seeking clarification around matters such as numbers for meetings and when doing so should get such clarifications in writing from the government or public health official to have on hand for any By Law officer who may visit your premises.
Current Public Health Orders in Manitoba are available here.
A reminder that a plan with protocols to followed including screening, masking, social distancing in
entering/exiting/seating arrangements, hand sanitizing, gathering of contact information and cleaning
protocols must be in place before any re-opening. For further information about these matters please
check the government website resource on faith communities, or past issues of the Weekly News available on the Prairie to Pine website for some examples offered by some United Church Communities of Faith.
ONTARIO
As Ontario’s communities gradually and safely transition back to a revised and strengthened COVID-19
Response Framework, orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario Act have been extended
until March 21, 2021. Orders currently in force under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection
Act (EMPCA) have also been extended to March 8, 2021.
Trends in key indicators, including lower transmission of COVID-19, have improved, and most regions are no longer subject to the Stay-at-Home order. Find out what restrictions are in place in your area. Effective March 15, 2021 the Northwestern Health region is in the RED or control restriction level which allows for religious services including weddings and funerals to be held with 30% of the capacity of the room indoors with protocols and 100 people outdoors.
See more details here.
