Winnipeg's Nuit Blanche rescheduling events, installations over coming month due to COVID-19 concerns

This year'sNuitBlanche in Winnipegan annual event that typically draws thousands of people to downtownwill be changed from a one-night event to multiple activities through the next monthdue to concerns over COVID-19.

A statement from the event's organizers posted to social media Thursday saysart activities and installations that werescheduled for the evening of Saturday, Sept. 26 will now run at different times during the Culture Days Manitoba event, which runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 25.

There werenine public art installations and performances scheduled throughout central Winnipeg for Saturday night,with many other activities and exhibits planned.

CBChas reached out to Nuit Blanche organizers for comment.

Chief ProvincialPublic Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said he couldn't comment on any specific event when asked at his COVID-19 news conference Thursday about Nuit Blanche.

But he said every event has to consider public health orders and avoid scenarios that lead to the spread of COVID-19, such as crowded places.

"Also as a Manitoban, everybody has to consider the trajectory of cases right now and make decisions that are best for Manitobans," he said.

Winnipeg has seen COVID-19 case numbers climb in recent weeks. More than 80 per cent of the province's 449 active cases were in the city as of Thursday.