But new Manitoba public health orders mean those items can't be purchased in-store, and Trout said the alternative — online shopping — is all but out of reach. Advocates say Trout is not alone, and the barrier to online shopping is just one of the ways public health orders impact low-income Manitobans more severely than others. When he announced the rules Thursday, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said skyrocketing COVID-19 cases forced the province to take drastic measures . Currently, items deemed essential include food, personal care and health products, baby and child-care items, pet supplies and outdoor winter clothing. The public health chief has said in the past it's difficult to write orders that account for all the circumstances that will arise.

Source: CBC News November 21, 2020 13:52 UTC