WINNIPEG – The same day Manitoba recorded a record 15 deaths from coronavirus, dozens of people turned out for an anti-mask rally in Steinbach. Most of them weren’t wearing masks or social distancing.

The Hugs Over Masks group organized yesterday’s event to protest the province’s new tougher COVID-19 restrictions.

Tickets were handed out to people in violation of public health orders and enforcement officials were the target of verbal abuse from the crowd.

One of the people fined $1,296 was Lewis Weiss, reeve of the RM of La Broquerie, who was a speaker at the demonstration.

Just a day earlier, the Manitoba Nurses’ Union reported having to triage patients in their cars at the hospital in Steinbach.