The province of Manitoba is considering a curfew to help drive down the province’s coronavirus numbers.
Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement Monday and said a curfew is on the table.
Manitobans have the chance to weigh in on the idea, said Pallister, noting he welcomes all feedback.
More information on how to give feedback will go up shortly at engagemb.ca, he said.
The province will announce later this week if they will go ahead with the curfew, added Pallister.
“It’s an idea that’s not new,” he said, pointing to Peguis First Nation, which has also implemented a curfew.
Pallister said that while the government has “taken action” to fight the virus, it’s up to Manitobans to help each other as well.
“I’m going to ask Manitobans for some help right now,” he said, pointing to Dr. Teresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer.
“She said last week the most significant thing Canadians can do … was to reduce their personal contacts by half.
“Here in Manitoba, I believe we need to reduce it more than that. At least 75 per cent.”
Pallister also said stepped up enforcement will be coming later this week, where the province will targeting halloween parties over the weekend.
“There was a Halloween party with multiple DJs being promoted on social media all last week,” he said.
Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman responded to the potential for a curfew Monday morning, and urged the province to implement it quickly, if that’s what the science says is the best solution.
“We heard today about issues that the province is raising with respect to parties and the potential of a curfew for the city of Winnipeg and the capital region. We’ve also heard they are soliciting feedback,” said Bowman.
“If the province feels this is the right thing to do, I would encourage them to just do it and not wait another day for a survey.
“The virus doesn’t take a night off. It’s in our community right now, and if the epidemiology and the evidence would support a curfew, then I think the province should simply introduce that measure in a timely fashion and not wait for a survey.”
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