COVID-19 Response for Museums

Here are links to information and resources to help to deal with, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic. While every effort is made to keep this information as current and complete as possible, it is not exhaustive. Please contact us if you feel something should be updated or added.

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As of September 7, 2021
Museums are being allowed to open to FULLY VACCINATED individuals. Proof of vaccination and ID will be required.

Contact the museum before your visit to make sure of their hours and requirements.

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Updates to Museums in Manitoba Opening (August 7)

As of 12:01 am, Saturday, August 7, 2021, museums and galleries will remain limited to 50 per cent capacity but will no longer be restricted to vaccinated visitors. The province's News Release can be found here.

Updates to Museums in Manitoba Opening (July 17)

Since we shared the news last week (AMM Messenger Quick Note), that Manitoba museums may open at 50% capacity to fully immunized people, we’ve received some clarification to questions we had. I’ve posted our questions below (in black); with the answers we received (in red) and my comments (in blue).

When you open to the public at 50% capacity you will need to confirm that people are fully immunized using the province’s Manitoba Immunization Verifier Application and to confirm the individual's identity against government-issued ID. If you fail to do so, you could be subject to a hefty fine. You must adhere to current public health orders regarding wearing masks, social distancing, cleaning, sanitizing, etc.

The Manitoba Immunization Verifier Application is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Information on downloading and using the Manitoba Immunization Verifier Application can be found here with FAQs that should help:
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/immunization-record.html#immunization-card-app

I’d also recommend signage at your entrance and/or where people pay, clearly stating the Province’s rules. Here are two samples that you may find useful.

Taking some training might be helpful for you and your staff to learn how, or to become comfortable with, asking these health questions. The training offered by Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) would be useful.

Here are two MTEC courses:

Handling Difficult Situations During COVID-19 and Beyond (free and available anytime.)
Cleaning it Right

As always, check the official government sources (https://manitoba.ca/covid19/index.html) and there are resources on our web pages as well (https://www.museumsmanitoba.com/en/covid-19-response-for-museums).

Questions and Answers
1.   Does the requirement for visitors to be fully immunized apply to museum visitors who will be outdoors only, as long as they are following other rules such as group size, distancing, masks, etc.?

We have confirmed with Public Health that the requirement for persons to be fully-immunized includes the outdoor areas associated with the museum.

2.   What other ways can museums verify visitors as fully immunized if they don’t have access to a device that can use the app?
3.   What other ways can museum verify visitors as being fully immunized if they don’t have internet/WIFI access at their sites?
4.   What other ways can museum verify visitors as being fully immunized if they don’t have internet/WIFI and the cell service is spotty or non-existent?

In addition to the Manitoba Digital Immunization Card (and the physical version of the card), immunization status can also be verified by inspection of the following documents:

National Defence Canada COVID-19 Vaccine Record / Card
Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) Travel Vaccination Record
An official document issued by a Canadian province or territory containing information of a person’s COVID-19 vaccination history

Public health orders require businesses and organizations to take reasonable measures to ensure people are providing proof of immunization. Business operators should use the Manitoba Verifier Application to confirm a person's immunization status, and are strongly encouraged to confirm the individual's identity against government-issued identification, such as Manitoba driver’s licence and or Canadian passport. This ensures that the name presented on the immunization card matches the name returned by the Manitoba Immunization Verifier application.

The verifier app is available on both the Apple Store and Android Play stores and links to those apps can be accessed here https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/immunization-record.html.

You’ll notice the one thing they didn’t address is what to do if you don’t have access to/can’t use the App. All I can suggest at this time, until I get further clarification, is that if you cannot use the app that you take reasonable measures to ensure people are providing proof of immunization. Perhaps a log with the person’s name, the proof of immunization, and ID you used, along with a date, name, and phone number. View a sample log as an Excel file or a PDF. My understanding is that you are not required to keep a log if you are able to use the Manitoba Immunization Verifier Application to verify a person’s immunization status.

5.   What other ways can museum verify visitors as being fully immunized if the visitor is not from Manitoba and doesn’t have the Manitoba Immunization Card, or the other two approved cards?

Out-of-province visitors can provide proof of immunization status by presenting an official document issued by a Canadian province or territory containing information of a person’s COVID-19 vaccination history.

At this time, there is no alternative immunization verification process for Manitobans who cannot present one of the accepted forms of documentation.

6.   Can children’s activities such as colouring books, blocks be used at museums, provided the other precautions (capacity limits, hand sanitizer, masks, fully vaccinated parents, distancing, etc.) are put in place?

The public health orders do not prohibit this but health officials continue to advise that high-touch surfaces/items be disinfected frequently and between each use.

7.   Since the visitors must be fully immunized, do the staff/volunteers have to be fully immunized?

The public health orders do not impose an obligation on organizations or venue operators to require their staff to be vaccinated.

Public health officials strongly encourage all Manitobans to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Organizations must decide how they will proceed regarding vaccination and their staff. In considering whether to require employees to provide proof of vaccination, factors such as employment law, employment agreements, health and safety obligations, privacy and human rights related obligations should be considered and it is recommended that legal advice be obtained before any such requirement is implemented.

8.   Can we get clarity on what the process is when visitors declare that they can’t get vaccinated due to medical reasons? Can we allow them in? If so, what documentation or other details are needed?

At this time, only persons who can provide proof of immunization are permitted to attend a museum.

9.   Unvaccinated children under 12 can only enter with a fully vaccinated member of their household. What about fully vaccinated grandparents or others who provide child-care?

At this time, children under 12 years of age may only be accompanied by a fully-immunized member of their household.

10.   Can we do the COVID vaccine confirmation in the lobby or entrance to our building, or do we have to do this outside?

Verification of immunization status can be conducted indoors.

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July 14, 2021
ONE GREAT SUMMER CONTINUES AS MANITOBA REACHED SECOND MILESTONE EARLY;
REOPENS BUSINESSES AT 50 PER CENT
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"Vaccines are the Safest and Quickest Way Out of this Pandemic": Pallister

The province will implement the second phase of the ‘4-3-2-One Great Summer’ Reopening Path two weeks early, on July 17, as vaccination rates continue to climb across the province, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, announced today.

“Vaccines are the safest and quickest way out of this pandemic. The sooner all eligible Manitobans get fully vaccinated, the sooner we can all get our lives back,” said Pallister. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of Manitoba’s vaccine team and Manitobans’ willingness to roll up their sleeves – not once, but twice – we are able to move forward earlier than anticipated with fewer restrictions on our economy and our communities.”

The second vaccination milestone of at least 75 per cent first dose and 50 per cent second dose for those age 12 and older was reached nearly a month ahead of schedule on July 6. With continued improvement in the overall COVID-19 situation, Manitobans will be able to enjoy more freedoms with expanded indoor and outdoor activities, the premier noted.

Under the second phase of the ‘4-3-2 One Great Summer’ Reopening Path, most facilities may now open to 50 per cent capacity, allowing more people to gather indoors and outdoors, shop, dine out, visit cultural and recreational facilities, and more. Fully immunized Manitobans who have received two vaccination doses at least two weeks ago, may enjoy even more benefits under new public health orders.

Specifically, the new public health orders will now allow the following:

indoor gatherings at private residences are permitted to a maximum of five people, plus the household members;
indoor gatherings in public spaces are permitted to a maximum of 25 people;
outdoor gatherings on private property increase to a maximum of 25 people;
public outdoor gatherings increase to a maximum of 150 people;
retail businesses increase to 50 per cent capacity or 500 people, whichever is lower;
restaurants, licensed premises and food court capacities expand to 50 per cent capacity:
outdoor maximum table size remains at eight people;
patrons may only sit together indoors if they are from the same household or if all patrons 12 years of age or older are fully immunized (unvaccinated children under 12 may dine with fully vaccinated members of their household in this case);
opening hours extend to midnight;
the requirement to purchase food when ordering alcohol no longer applies;
VLTs may be operate with all other restaurant/bar rules applying (two-metre distance, only households or fully vaccinated people seated together);
personal services (haircuts and styling, nail salons, estheticians and massage) continue at 50 per cent capacity; however, appointments are no longer required;
dance, theatre, and music school capacities increase to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 25 people per group;
indoor sporting facilities may host groups up to a maximum of 25 people, interaction between groups and tournaments are not permitted;
day camp capacity increases to groups of 25, joint activities between groups and overnight camps are prohibited;
outdoor recreation including games and practices may take place to maximum group size of 50 people; spectators are permitted and do not count towards this capacity limit; tournaments are not permitted;
gym and fitness centre capacities expand to 50 per cent capacity; masks and increased physical distancing (three metres) are still required;
outdoor weddings and funerals may include up to 150 participants in addition to photographers and officiants; indoor weddings or funerals increase to 25 people in addition to photographers and officiants;
libraries may open to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 150 people, whichever is lower;
faith-based and cultural gatherings (pow wows, sun dances) may expand to 50 per cent capacity or 150 people indoors, whichever is lower; masks and physical distancing between households is still required;
if the facility design allows, the capacity limits may be applied to different physical spaces within the venue;
outdoor faith-based and cultural gatherings permitted up to 150 people and drive-in services continue to be permitted without restriction;
the following may now reopen for fully immunized people only, to a maximum capacity of 50 per cent: movie theatres; bingo halls, VLT lounges and casinos, and museums and galleries;
museums operate under the fully vaccinated requirement when open to the public as a museum, both indoors and out, and if the museum is used as a private venue for another purpose (e.g. wedding), then the appropriate orders apply;
unvaccinated children under 12 may attend/visit these facilities/events (as appropriate) if accompanied by fully vaccinated members of their household;
large-scale, outdoor professional sports or performing arts events may operate with capacities up to 100 per cent after developing an approved event plan in consultation with public health.

(View/print an easy to follow chart regarding what is now allowed)

In all cases, following the COVID-19 fundamentals, including indoor mask use and physical distancing, is still required to protect the health and well-being of all Manitobans.

“This is the safe, reasonable and appropriate next step in our reopening”, said Roussin. “More and more vaccinations allow us to loosen public health restrictions. But COVID-19 is still circulating in the province and continues to challenge our hospital and ICU capacity, a phased reopening is a safe reopening.”

Pallister echoed the need for caution and care in the province’s reopening plan.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint. We are not at the finish line yet, the race to beat COVID-19 is not over yet,” said the premier. “Until that race is over, Manitobans must continue to do their part and fulfil the two most important public health responsibilities each of us have; get fully vaccinated and follow the public health orders designed to keep COVID-19 away.”

The new public health orders will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 17.

The orders are scheduled to expire at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 and will be reassessed at that time in the context of vaccination rates and the province’s overall COVID-19 situation.

“We are close to achieving all of our vaccination milestones ahead of schedule. Now we just need that extra effort by every Manitoban not yet vaccinated to roll up your sleeve and push us across the finish line so we can fully reopen, safely and quickly,” said Pallister.

For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19/.
Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.

Province's Press Conference: June 23, 2021

Update on Order 29:
We followed-up with Veronica Dyck, Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Division – Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage, about some different information we had heard about the possibility of outdoor programming. She got back to us with this reply:

"I followed up on this and they have confirmed that museums, libraries and art galleries are now permitted to provide outdoor programing that adheres to the gathering limits for outdoor public places (25 people max.). Order 29 is intended to refer to the facilities, which must be closed to the public, rather than the services they provide."

If you have additional questions please contact the AMM office or your local provincial representative:

Municipal Relations - Community Development Branch Offices

Central Region
225 Wardrop St.
Morden MB R6M 1N4
Ph: 204-822-5418
Fax: 204-822-2915
Toll Free: 1-866-346-5219
E-mail: Cindy.Kowalski@gov.mb.ca

Interlake Region
Box 1519
75 7th Ave.
Gimli MB R0C 1B0
Ph: 204-642-6014
Fax: 204-642-6150
E-mail: Ian.Goodall-George@gov.mb.ca

Eastman Region
Box 50
20 1st St. S.
Beausejour MB R0E 0C0
Ph: 204-268-6021
Fax: 204-268-6070
Toll Free: 1-800-665-6107
E-mail: Roger.Langlais@gov.mb.ca

Parkland Region
Box 14
27 2nd Ave. S.W.
Dauphin MB R7N 3E5
Ph: 204-622-2022
Fax: 204-622-2298
E-mail: Martijn.VanLuijn@gov.mb.ca

Norman Region
3 Station Road
North Central Mall
Thompson MB R8N 0N3
Ph: 204-679-8331
Fax: 204-677-0639
Toll Free: 1-855-644-0401
E-mail: Melissa.Branconnier@gov.mb.ca

Westman Region
Rm. 335
340 9th St.
Brandon MB R7A 6C2
Ph: 204-726-6066
Fax: 204-726-6583
Toll Free: 1-800-259-6592
E-mail: Kris.Doull@gov.mb.ca

Winnipeg Manitoba Municipal Relations
6th floor – 800 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg MB R3G 0N4
Ph: 204-945-4401
Fax: 204-948-4042
Email: Jaymi.Derrett@gov.mb.ca

AMM's Take on the New Public Health Orders that were announced by
the Province on May 27:

Our understanding of the new restrictions is that Museums shall remain closed to the public and that people should work remotely as much as possible. However, people can work at their place of business provided ALL health and safety measures are followed, masks, 2 meters etc. We would encourage everyone to limit their contact as much as possible.

The new orders will remain in effect until Saturday, June 12, at 12:01 a.m. For a full listing of the current health orders, all of which will remain in effect, visit: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/prs/index.html.

In the spirit of preventing workplace spread of the virus, people could consider delaying start dates for summer students or have them work from home, if possible. Young people are only recently eligible for the vaccine and so might not have had their shot yet, or they may have received the shot only recently, so have not yet developed any immunity. Let’s obey, not just the letter of the law, but the sprit of the order, and do our best to reduce transmission.

Re-opening Museums Resources

Association of Manitoba Museums

Alberta Museums Association
Guidance for Re-opening Museums

Canadian Museums Association
Re-opening Resources

Museums Association of Saskatchewan
Recommendations & Considerations for Re-opening Museums - Expanded Edition

Société des musées du Québec
COVID-19: To adopt good sanitary practices in museums

American Institute for Conservation
COVID-19 Resources

Virtual Resources

Social Media during COVID-19: A Quick Guide for Canadian Museums (Downloadable PDF)

Library/Archives Resources

American Library Association:
Handling Library Materials and Collections During a Pandemic

Health Related

Government of Canada
Hard Surface Disinfectants and Hand sanitizers

Shared Health Manitoba
COVID-19 Assessment tool

Doctors Manitoba

No Sick Employees

Caring for Heritage Collections

Alberta Museums Association
Managing Your Museum's Pandemic Reponse Part 1: Activating Your Emergency Response

American Institute for Conservation & Foundation for
Advancement in Conservation: C2C Care:
Collections Care in the Age of COVID-19
(video of Q&A meeting, April 2020)

Canadian Conservation Institute

Library of Congress (United States)
The Impact of Had Sanitizers on Collection Materials

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
Disinfecting Cultural Resources

Historic England
COVID-19 - Cleaning Historic Surfaces