A new public health order announced by the premier on Tuesday will impose more restrictions on interprovincial travel.
Premier Brian Pallister says these formal travel restrictions are in part designed to reduce the risk of importing any new COVID-19 strains from other jurisdictions. There are several variants of the novel coronavirus — some of which have raised concerns after proving to be significantly more transmissible than the original.
A release from the province states the public health orders will be amended on Jan. 29 so that anyone entering Manitoba from anywhere in Canada will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
This includes those entering from northern and Western Canada, and from west of Terrace Bay in Ontario, which under previous health orders did not require self-isolation.
Current exemptions to self-isolation measures are still in effect including those travelling for essential interprovincial work and people travelling for medical purposes.
There will also continue to be exemptions for people who regularly travel to and from communities near the borders for essential purposes.
Manitobans currently out-of-province will have until 11:59 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28 to return to the province without being required to self-isolate.
The province says violations of the self-isolation order will be subject to fines.
