Thursday morning Premier Brian Pallister outlined the draft plan for Phase 2 of the province's reopening measures related to COVID-19. Pallister stressed it will be a gradual and measured approach the province will be taking and thanked Manitobans for their diligence in respecting physical distancing guidelines.

At the top of the list of today's announcement was the potential restoration of limited access to educational facilities. In careful consultation with Public Health experts, the province is currently examining limited access where physical distancing can be maintained, to allow for additional tutorial days, such as one-on-one learning, assessment, and specific programming. Other aspects of the plan include additional teaching days for the upcoming school year, including starting schools on August 31st and re-purposing some of the non-instructional days throughout the school year. All of these possible steps will see the Department of Education continue planning and consultation with school divisions and other stakeholders.

Other items being examined for the second phase of service restoration include:
• increasing child-care centre occupancy to up to 24 children plus staffing;
• increasing day camp group sizes to 24;
• resuming sports activities for children and adults;
• lifting occupancy limits at outdoor recreation facilities and golf courses outdoors, as long as physical distancing can be maintained and allowing limited access to indoor spaces;
• allowing direct travel to northern parks, campgrounds, cabins, lodges and resorts while ensuring physical distancing;
• allowing public/private swimming pools, spas, fitness clubs, gyms and community/service centres to reopen with some limitations;
• allowing religious or other organizations to hold outdoor services without limitation on numbers if people stay in their vehicles;
• reopening manicurists and pedicurists, tattoo parlours, estheticians, cosmetologists, electrologists and tanning parlours at 50 per cent capacity;
• allowing restaurants to reopen indoor spaces at 50 per cent capacity and continue to offer patio services at that capacity level;
• allowing bars, beverage rooms, micro-brewers and similar businesses that serve food and drinks to operate patio service at 50 per cent of site capacity and to reopen indoor spaces at 50 per cent capacity; and
• allowing the resumption of film productions while ensuring physical distancing.

Meanwhile, the Premier confirmed what Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced Wednesday, specifically increasing gathering sizes to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors, and allowing residents of personal care homes and long-term care facilities to have visits outdoors. Those changes are set to come into effect Friday.

It was also reaffirmed in the accompanying news release with today's announcement mass gatherings including concerts, festivals and major sporting events will not be considered before September 2020.

Also included in today's notes was the fact no changes were made to the requirements for reopening hairstylists/barbers, museums, galleries and libraries and parks, campgrounds yurts, and vacation cabins.