Good afternoon,

What a week this has been. I hope you're all finding ways to manage during this difficult time whether it's reinventing your business and taking services online, ramping up your ability to deliver food, finding ways to manage working from home, supporting your employees or preparing for the time you can re-open. When it comes to business, we know you never stop innovating.

At the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ our team is working hard (and safely) to clean and maintain our neighbourhood. Our Enviro team has been diligently cleaning bus shacks, removing graffiti, picking up litter and needles, and our Watch Ambassadors continue to be the eyes and ears for folks working and living downtown. Our Community Homelessness Assistance Team (CHAT) continues to connect with and support our vulnerable population and we're putting in extra effort to promote your businesses as everyone tries to adapt to the current situation. We have put together a web page for businesses with important information regarding COVID-19 and government support.

We are connecting with government advocating for supports and programs that will help you through this time. Whether it's utility and tax payment deferrals or access to cash, we are sharing all ideas that could help. We are also adapting our 2020 plans so our downtown will be even more beautiful and exciting when everyone comes back.

As we head into the weekend, there is some news that could impact your business we'd like to share:

As authorized under The Public Health Act, the following measures will be in place, effective immediately, for a period of 30 days:

1. Limiting public gatherings of more than 50 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. This does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided.



2. Retail businesses including grocery or food stores, shopping centres, pharmacies or gas stations must ensure separation of one to two metres between patrons assembling in the business.



3. Public transportation facilities must also ensure that people assembling at the facility are reasonably able to maintain a separation of one to two metres from others assembling at the facility.
   
   
4. Limiting hospitality premises where food or alcohol is served or any theatres offering live performances of music, dance and other art forms as movies theatres to 50 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the premises, whichever is lesser. These establishments must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers.
   
   
5. Immediate closures of all bingo and gaming events.
   
   
6. Immediate closure of all wellness centres offering physical activities, gyms, fitness centres and athletic clubs and training facilities.

These measures are in effect as of 4pm today.
See news.gov.mb.ca for more information.

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is always here to lend an ear, to help you vent, to talk you through ideas you may have to get through the crisis. Call, email, direct message...we are here for you:

204-958-4640
info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com

We have put together a web page for businesses with important information regarding COVID-19 and government support: downtownwinnipegbiz.com/updates-for-biz-members

We continue to share your business updates on Downtown Winnipeg BIZ website and social media. Please email Susan (susan@downtownwinnipegbiz.com) or tag @downtownwpgbiz if you would like us to share your message. Here's an ongoing list of member updates: downtownwinnipegbiz.com/updates-on-your-downtown-businesses.


Stay well and keep connecting,

Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ