• Current Provincial State of Emergency and Public Health Orders
  • Self-Isolation and Contact Tracing
  • Travel and Self-Isolation
  • Travel to Cottages or Second Properties
  • Orders Prohibiting Travel to Northern Manitoba
  • Enforcement Information
  • Current Public Health Orders

  • Current Public Health Orders

    The Manitoba government declared a province-wide state of emergency under The Emergency Measures Act on March 20, 2020, to protect the health and safety of all Manitobans and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

    April 8, 2021


    April 1, 2021 - Manitoba Government Extends State of Emergency to Protect Health and Safety of Manitobans

    January 21, 2021 - Province Makes Modest Changes to Provincial Public Health Orders Protecting Manitobans Effective Jan. 23

    February 13, 2021 - Orders Under the Public Health Act - Cross Lake COVID-19 Prevention Orders (pdf)



    Self-Isolation and Contact Tracing

    The self-isolation order continue to require that anyone entering Manitoba, regardless of whether it was from another country or another province must self-isolate for 14 days until such time as the orders are terminated by the chief provincial public health officer.

    • Effective August 28, public health orders will require Manitobans to self-isolate for 14 days if:
      • they have tested positive for COVID-19; or
      • they have been exposed to COVID-19 by a close contact.
    • Individuals will be notified by a public health official if self-isolation is required.
    • Once notified, the person must go to their residence or an approved self-isolation location and remain there for 14 days, or until they are directed otherwise by a public health official.
    • Exceptions will be made for in-person appointments with health care providers. However, if an individual leaves their home, they must wear masks, maintain physical distancing and minimize the time away from their self-isolation location.
    • Failure to self-isolate in accordance with public health advice is a violation of the order and is enforceable under the Public Health Act. Individuals could be subject to fines for non-compliance.

    For more information, please view the order.

    Travel and Self-isolation

    As per the public health order, 14 days of self-isolation is required for all individuals returning to or coming to Manitoba from all jurisdictions.

    Individuals who travelled internationally must go into mandatory self-isolation (quarantine) for the remainder of their 14 days from the date of arrival to Canada upon arriving in Manitoba. The days in self-isolation (quarantine) at port of entry count towards the 14 day period.

    All individuals who have travelled are strongly advised get two COVID-19 tests - one on the day of arrival, and another on the day 10 after arriving in Manitoba regardless of if they are displaying symptoms, whether they are visiting Manitoba or whether they are returning to Manitoba from out of province or out of the country.

    They should make an appointment with a provincial testing site or visit a drive-thru test site and indicate at the time of testing that they have travelled and share the location of travel. Travellers must observe the full 14-day self-isolation period regardless of symptoms and test results. Re-testing is advised if an asymptomatic individual develops symptoms at any point, unless the individual had already tested positive. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and have had close contact to a traveller should identify this contact to public health during the public health investigation and follow-up.

    Effective Friday, March 19th, 2021, public health officials strongly recommend that COVID-19 testing occur before travel to First Nations and Indigenous and Northern Relations communities, and before someone returns to a community if a resident has been away for more than 48 hours

    Testing should not be done in individuals with a previous lab-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the past there months. Testing is recommended for individuals who have received one or two doses of vaccine. 

    Individuals without symptoms of COVID-19 travelling to, or returning to, a First Nations or Indigenous and Northern Relations community can seek testing within three days of travel at no cost at the following locations. For hours and appointment information, visit the COVID-19 testing site.

    • Winnipeg:
      • Garry Centre - 330 Garry St.
      • Thunderbird House - 715 Main St
      • MPI Drive-Thru Testing site - 125 King Edward St
    • Thompson:
      • Thompson Clinic Testing Centre - Plaza Mall
    • The Pas:
      • The Pas Testing Centre - 328 Fischer Ave

    Provided they have no symptoms, individuals seeking testing prior to travel, or return to, a First Nations or Indigenous and Northern Relations community do not need to self-isolate (quarantine) while waiting for their test result. However, they are encouraged to continue self-monitoring for symptoms, using the online screening tool, for 14 days after arriving in community.

    Even if an individual receives a negative test result, they need to continue to follow all public health measures including limiting non-household close contacts, wearing masks in indoor public places, following physical distancing measures, and practicing frequent hand hygiene.

    If individuals develop symptoms after receiving negative test results they need to immediately self-isolate and be re-tested.

    Self Isolation Exemptions:

    Non-essential travel is strongly discouraged. Exemptions exist for certain critical needs like health care and transporting important goods and services.

    If individuals do not have symptoms, exemptions to mandatory self-isolation (quarantine) include:

    • health care providers;
    • persons transporting goods and materials into or out of the province;
    • aircraft and train crew members;
    • persons providing vital services (i.e. police officers, emergency service personnel, corrections officers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, social service workers and elected officials and their staffs);
    • persons travelling directly through the province if they only stop in Manitoba to obtain gasoline, food or other necessities;
    • persons travelling into Manitoba for emergency medical purposes;
    • persons travelling into Manitoba to facilitate shared parenting arrangements;
    • players, coaches, managers, training and technical staff and medical personnel employed by, or affiliated with, a professional hockey team based in Manitoba;
    • cast, crew and other persons directly involved in a film production;
    • persons who reside outside of Manitoba and are responsible for construction or maintenance of critical infrastructure;
    • Manitoba residents who regularly cross the provincial border for work, attend school, access health services, tend to their property or business or for other essential purposes if they restrict their travel to the minimum required for the purpose of their visit and limit their use of local services;
    • persons who reside outside of Manitoba and are engaged in construction or maintenance of any building, structure or other project in Manitoba and the failure to complete the project would create a threat to people, property and the environment;  
    • persons travelling to Manitoba to participate in a trial or other judicial proceedings;
    • international travellers who have completed a period of isolation elsewhere in Canada and travel directly to Manitoba immediately after their isolation period ends;
    • persons traveling to Manitoba to visit a family member or friend in a health care facility with a life-threatening illness or injury must self-isolate for 14 days but can visit their friend or family member in the isolation period if the health care facility authorizes the visit and the person visiting is not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19;
    • persons traveling to Manitoba to attend a funeral of a family member or friend must self-isolate for 14 days, but can attend the funeral during the self-isolation period if  they are not displaying ay symptoms of COVID-19; and
    • persons traveling to Manitoba to care for a seriously ill family member or friend must self-isolate for 14 days. However, if the person is not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, they can complete their required isolation at the residence of the seriously ill person and provide care to that individual, or can provide care to that individual during the isolation period.

    Any critical worker who leaves the province for non-critical travel (travel not related to their critical worker duties) must self-isolate upon their return for 14 days. 

    Critical workers are defined as those providing vital services in Manitoba, such as health care providers, police officers, emergency services personnel, corrections officers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, social service workers and elected officials and their staff. In addition to critical workers, there are other exemptions to travel restrictions as per 2(1) of the public health order.

    Individuals who are exempted from mandatory self-isolation (quarantine) should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following their arrival to Manitoba. If symptoms develop, they should immediately isolate and get tested for COVID-19. Individuals can also connect with their workplace's occupational safety and health unit.

    Examples of critical and non-critical travel

    Scenario 1:
    An essential healthcare worker left for a ski trip Jan. 21 and will return Feb. 1. Is he exempt from the orders or does he need to self-isolate upon return?

    Answer: Because he left before the orders took effect, he would not have to self-isolate upon return because he is a critical worker. However, any critical workers who leave Manitoba after the orders take effect on Jan. 29 will need to self-isolate upon return if their trip is for non-work-related purposes and upon return, should also self-isolate from any household members who did not travel.

    Scenario 2:
    A truck driver left for a work trip Jan. 25 and will return Jan. 29. Are they exempt from the orders or do they need to self-isolate upon return?

    Answer: Because they were travelling for reasons as listed in exemptions above, they do not need to self-isolate upon return under the public health orders.

    Scenario 3:
    An electrician working on a major project in BC will return to Manitoba from her three-week work wrap for a week off with her family and return to BC after the week is over. Does she need to self-isolate for the week?

    Answer: Because she is not providing a critical service within Manitoba, she would need to self-isolate upon her return, which would include self-isolating from her family within her house. Self-isolation information is available here: www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/fundamentals/self-isolation.html.

    Scenario 4:
    A doctor goes to her cottage on Lake of the Woods in Ontario for the weekend. Is she required to self-isolate upon return to Manitoba?

    Answer: Because cottagers or those owning a second property either in or outside the province are exempt, she does not need to self-isolate upon return to Manitoba. Cottagers should take a “leave no trace” approach and not interact with anyone on the way to or from their cottage, or while they’re at the cottage. Those going to another province should also check self-isolation requirements for entry into that province; for example, Ontario has mandated a 14-day self-isolation period upon arrival.

    Please see the order for additional information.


    Travel to Cottages or Second Properties

    • Manitobans should limit travel to essential purposes only. Travel to cottages or second properties for recreational purposes is not recommended.
    • Manitoba currently has a Northern Manitoba travel restriction in place.  If your cottage or second property is in Northern Manitoba, read the order.
    • A self-isolation order is in effect for anyone returning to or entering Manitoba, with some exemptions for essential workers.
    • If you choose to visit a cottage or second property outside of Manitoba:
      • Restrict your travel to the minimum required for the purpose of the visit.
      • Limit the use of local services and take a "leave no trace" approach.
        • You should drive straight to and from your property without making any stops or visits along the way.
        • Stay at the property for the duration of your visit and do not interact with or visit anyone outside your household while you are there (including getting gas or groceries).
        • Drive straight home without making any stops.



    Orders Prohibiting Travel to Northern Manitoba

    Updated Wednesday December 9, 2020

    In effect since October 13, 2020, details will be provided on the Pandemic Response System.

    For detailed information, view the orders.




    Current Public Health Orders

    April 8, 2021 (in effect as of 12:01 a.m. April 9, 2021) - General COVID-19 Prevention Orders (pdf)

    January 28, 2021 - Self-Isolation Orders for Persons Entering Manitoba (pdf)

    December 22, 2020 - Orders Under the Public Health Act (Self-Isolation and Contact Tracing) - COVID-19 Prevention Orders (pdf)

    December 9, 2020 - Orders Under the Public Health Act - Travel to Northern and Remote Communities (pdf)

    November 5, 2020 -  Public Health Orders Orders Restricting Staff Movement at Personal Care Homes

    October 28, 2020 - Orders Under the Public Health Act - Cross Lake COVID-19 Prevention Orders (pdf)

    October 8, 2020 - Orders Under the Public Health Act - Little Grand Rapids COVID-19 Prevention Orders (pdf)

    October 2, 2020 - Order re Temporary Suspension of In-Person Commissioning and Witnessing Provisions, renewal (pdf)

    October 1, 2020 - Order re Temporary Suspension of Corporate Meeting Provisions (2) (pdf)

    September 10, 2020
    News Release:
    Province Renews Nine Emergency Measures Act Orders as Part of COVID-19 Response

    May 14, 2020 - Additional Enforcement Personnel Regulation



    Enforcement Information

    Public health officials continue to educate businesses and the public about the steps they need to take to ensure compliance with orders made under The Public Health Act and The Emergency Measures Act.

    However, the province has made amendments to the Preset Fines and Offence Descriptions Regulation (PFODR) under The Provincial Offences Act (POA) to allow enforcement officers to issue tickets with set fines for failure to comply with the emergency orders.

    Effective immediately, total fine amounts will be set at $1,296 for tickets issued to individuals, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, and $5,000 for tickets issued to corporations.



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