Winnipeg galleries and museums are included in sweeping shutdowns that take effect Monday to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, moved Winnipeg to red, the critical level, after days of mounting COVID-19 cases.
The move forces the temporary closure of everything from movie theatres and concert halls to sports facilities and restaurant dining rooms.
Retail stores have been told to limit capacity to 25 per cent or five people, whichever is higher.
The measures will be in effect for at least two weeks, Roussin said.
Manitoba reported 480 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, with 104 people in hospital, including 19 in intensive care. Officials fear hospitals could be overwhelmed if the spread of the virus is not slowed.
Some cultural venues were not waiting until Monday. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights said it was closing immediately.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is closing as of Monday.
"The health and safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors remains our top priority," the gallery's director Stephen Borys said Friday. "The closure includes upcoming events and public programs."
The gallery's shop and WAG@TheForks will remain open, operating at reduced capacity, as permitted under rules governing retail spaces, he said.
Source: CBC News, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canadian Museum for Human Rights
