Manitoba to End Vaccine Passport, Mask Mandate in March, Premier Says

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson speaks at a press conference following a swearing-in ceremony for her cabinet at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Jan. 18, 2022. (David Lipnowski/The Canadian Press)

Manitoba will end its vaccine passport, mask mandate, and other COVID-19 restrictions next month, Premier Heather Stefanson says.

“Effective March 1, the required use of vaccine cards will be eliminated in Manitoba, and effective March 15, mask requirements and all other restrictions will be eliminated,” Stefanson announced at a press conference on Feb. 11.

As of 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 15, the province will also move to “yellow” or caution level under its pandemic response system. This means capacity limits will be removed in settings including restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor sporting venues, as well as gatherings at private residences.

Additionally, capacity limits for outdoor public gatherings will end, but will be limited to 50 people indoors unless proof of vaccination is required, the province said. Proof of vaccination and testing requirements at indoor sports for youth ages 12 to 17 will be lifted on Feb. 15 as well.

Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said the decision to ease the restrictions is largely due to the Omicron variant showing signs it has reached its peak in transmission in the province.

“Based on the information and data monitored by public health, we are seeing strong signals that the Omicron wave has peaked and is now having a reduced impact here in Manitoba,” Roussin said in a statement.

“As a result, it’s prudent to continue to reduce our public health restrictions.”

Also effective Feb. 15, schools in Manitoba will return to yellow or caution level under its pandemic response system, which requires cohorts in kindergarten to Grade 6.

Specifically, masks will still be required indoors for staff and students except during physical education classes. Medical masks will be recommended but no longer mandatory for school staff.

The province added that the schools will continue to send out notification letters to inform parents if there is increased transmission or recommended remote learning for a class, cohort, or entire school.

Manitoba’s announcement to end vaccine passports and masking follows on the heels of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

On Feb. 8, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced that all proof of vaccination mandates across his province will be lifted on Feb. 14, with masking requirements ceasing by the end of the month.

“Today, with Omicron, the benefits of the proof of vaccination policy no longer outweigh the costs. This policy most certainly has run its course,” Moe told reporters.

“So it’s time for us to take a step back and start living with COVID and to make every effort to get our lives back to normal.”

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney similarly announced on Feb. 8 that his government would end the vaccine passport, also known as the restriction exemption program, at midnight that night. Other COVID-19 rules will be lifted in three weeks.

Kenney said his government was able to make the changes due to Alberta’s high vaccination rates, declining hospital cases, and a continued drop in the transmission of the Omicron variant.

“Our approach to COVID must change as the disease changes,” he said.

Andrew Chen contributed to this report