A look back at the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba through photos

It's been over five years since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Manitoba, marking the beginning of the province's experience of the global pandemic.

That pandemic changed what life looked like across Manitoba, from empty downtown streets and care home visits done through windows to remote learning and protests against pandemic restrictions.

It also resulted in the deaths of thousands of Manitobans. As of March 6, the province had reported a total of 3,821 COVID-19-related deaths — which includes deaths that happened 10 days before or 30 days after a lab-confirmed case, and patients who tested positive for COVID-19 but may have died of other causes, a provincial spokesperson said. 

Take a look back through some of the most striking photos of the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba.

On March 12, 2020, Manitoba reported its first presumptive cases of COVID-19, marking the beginning of the pandemic's effect on people's lives across the province.

In those early days, normally busy downtown intersections were suddenly quiet and Winnipeg's airport was virtually empty. The province soon declared a state of emergency and banned large gatherings.

Community spaces like libraries, parks, playgrounds and skate parks were quickly closed to the public.

Before long, people began stocking up on staples like toilet paper, leaving store shelves bare.

Soon, schools were closed too.

Signs aimed at health-care and other front-line or essential service workers began popping up in people's windows too, thanking them for the work they were doing during such an uncertain time.

After most businesses were forced to close their doors during Manitoba's first lockdown of the pandemic, many were allowed to slowly start reopening under strict guidelines later in the spring of 2020.

But not all rules were eased just yet. Visits inside long-term care homes were still restricted for some time, leaving loved ones like Sam and Shirley Kleiman to have their visits through a window.

Many COVID-19 test sites were soon in full swing, including drive-thru spots where lines of vehicles would often stretch down the block.

Later in the year, items considered non-essential — from toys to Christmas decorations to decorative paper plates — were blocked off in Manitoba stores, as new COVID-19 public health orders came into effect prohibiting their sale.