UPDATE: Dr. Brent Roussin and Health Minister Audrey Gordon have scheduled a press conference for 11:30 am today (Nov 12) and are expected to announce stricter COVID health measures.
ORIGINAL STORY:
No-one wants tighter COVID-19 health restrictions, especially heading into the holidays, but Manitoba health officials have not ruled that out.
Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, said Wednesday, “The trajectory is going in the wrong direction. So far we are following trends and monitoring the strain on the healthcare system, but we will be reviewing what our next steps could be, and I have said before that stricter measures are an option.”
There were 143 new cases provice-wide on November 10th. In Prairie Mountain Health there were 29 new cases, 14 were among those not fully vaccinated. In the Interlake-Eastern Health region there were 10, with 7 not fully vaccinated, 5 in the Northern Health Region, with 3 not fully vaccinated, 66 in the Southern Health Region with 44 not fully vaccinated – and 33 in Winnipeg with 21 not fully vaccinated.
Premier Heather Stefanson has said she was not in favour of more restrictions and lockdowns, and Roussin reiterated that elected officials have the final say on any decisions regarding public policy.
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Manitoba is expanding access for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to all adults in the province.
In a news release on Wednesday, health officials said everyone aged 18-and-up can now get a booster shot, with the third dose recommended especially for those who are at an increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19, their caregivers and close contacts.
If you’re looking at getting the booster, you’re reminded there must be six months between the second and third dose.
