WINNIPEG – COVID-19 Update – Manitoba’s Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, to Manitoba’s discuss Safe at Home expansion.
The Safe at Home Manitoba grant has been expanded to support more than 300 projects totalling $5 million to help Manitobans stay active and engaged while adhering to public health orders, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox announced today, joined by Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, as the province unveiled a revamped public awareness campaign to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19.
“The Safe at Home Manitoba program has been a tremendous success in helping to improve the quality of life for many Manitobans in all regions of the province, while helping us stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Cox. “This pandemic is far from over, which is why it is so important that we continue to offer ways for Manitobans to stay ‘safe at home’. We are proud to expand this innovative and creative initiative to offer over 300 virtual programs to run throughout the winter months to keep Manitobans busy, active, entertained and, most importantly, safe.”
Due to high demand and the success of the initial launch of Safe at Home Manitoba, the province invested an additional $2 million to provide a total of $5 million for a wide variety of Manitoba organizations, municipalities, local businesses and individual artists providing free, inclusive programming such as live streaming of the performing arts, at-home fitness, cooking classes, art programs for children, and resources for seniors, Indigenous youth, newcomers and vulnerable Manitobans, the minister noted.
Additionally the province is launching phase two of its Safe at Home advertising campaign, which encourages Manitobans to continue their efforts to bend Manitoba’s COVID curve down by following public health advice and staying safe at home as often as they can. These messages are supported with new ‘Resist’ public health messages that remind Manitobans of the importance of following the fundamentals especially as the province begins to cautiously restart the economy.
“As we look to gradually loosen restrictions and allow Manitobans to get back to doing some of the things they love and have missed, it is crucial that we continue to follow the fundamentals and avoid activities that are known to cause the greatest risk – close-contact settings, crowded places and closed spaces,” said Roussin. “The Safe at Home Manitoba programs provide the opportunity for Manitobans of all ages to stay active, healthy and engaged, while protecting themselves, their loved ones and their community.”
The province has invested over $440,000 in the Safe at Home advertising campaign, which began in November and will run until the end of March. The campaigns include a mix of digital and social ads, as well as radio and television commercials. The Manitoba government will continue to prioritize educating the public on the risks of COVID-19, the minister noted.
