With the COVID-19 pandemic now stretching into its ninth month in Manitoba, the city of Steinbach has become a hotbed for cases.

On March 12th, the province announced its first presumptive case of COVID-19. Thursday of this week marked the eight month anniversary of that announcement. Since then, the total number of cases has ballooned to 10,216. Of those, 466 have been in Steinbach. In fact, as of Friday, Steinbach has 272 active cases and 11 total deaths associated with the virus.

Steinbach's COVID-19 rate is currently 2,124 cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's COVID-19 rate is currently 815 cases per 100,000 people.

On Thursday of this week, the entire province went into Level Red on Manitoba's Pandemic Response System. Among other things, personal service businesses are closed, gyms and fitness centres are closed, religious and cultural gatherings are closed and social contacts are reduced to your household only.

The use of masks has long been mandatory in public places in Steinbach. And, at a time when outbreaks have been declared at Bethesda Regional Health Centre and several personal care homes in Steinbach, a protest is being organized this weekend that would encourage Manitobans to disobey public health orders intended to protect people from COVID-19. The orders being protested are those mandating the wearing of masks.

Manitoba's Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin was asked whether enforcement officers should be issuing tickets at the protest.

"I think overall that people who are in violation of the public health orders, there should be enforcement," warns Dr. Roussin. "We don't have time to educate anymore, we're at a critical stage right now. So I think (for) anyone violating these public health orders, there should be enforcement."

La Broquerie Reeve Lewis Weiss is a guest speaker at the weekend protest. Though he does not know why the protest is being held now specifically, he says the group has had rallies in several locations and it is Steinbach's turn. Weiss says he does not know where all of the protestors are coming from but says before he agreed to speak, he ensured that all government rules are being followed.

"I have received some communication from nurses in the area who were very concerned and felt that I was belittling their work and by no means do I mean to do that and if that was what came across, I apologize for that," says Weiss. "We appreciate nurses and all of the health care workers for all that they have done up until now. They have a very important role. I don't want to wish sickness of any kind onto anybody. It is a terrible thing."

Organizers say the lineup of speakers includes a doctor. However, Doctors Manitoba is confirming that the individual advertised as a speaker for the protest is not a medical doctor. Doctors Manitoba has issued a statement, saying they support wearing a mask and support the restrictions, viewing them as necessary because hospitals are close to being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. 

Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk says City Hall is aware that this event is being planned, but says there has been no communication by organizers. 

"There has been no parade permit requested, there's been no request to rent any of our facilities and we would never approve this," admits Funk. "I do want the City of Steinbach to know that we would never approve this at this time. With the Manitoba public health orders and how they've ordered no gatherings, we wouldn't approve a rental of any of our facilities at this time."

Meanwhile, Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says whatever methods people are using to display their opinions, must be done following public health orders.

"Regardless if it's a protest or whatever other form of demonstration is happening, there are rules that have to be followed," stresses Goertzen. "The rules are there to ensure that everyone remains safe, including those that are protesting."