'It is here to stay': Manitoba public health says everyone will likely be exposed to COVID-19 in the coming weeks
Manitoba public health is shifting to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 instead of containing it, saying with the highly transmissible Omicron variant in play, it is likely everyone will be exposed to the virus in the coming weeks.
During a public health update on Wednesday, Dr. Jazz Atwal, the deputy chief provincial public health officer, said COVID-19 is no longer an emerging illness.
"It is here to stay and our ability to contain the virus is limited," Atwal said.
He said the Omicron variant is highly transmissible – one person may infect 12 to 16 people.
"It is highly likely everyone will be exposed to the virus in the coming weeks," Atwal said, adding some Manitobans will have immunity from a previous infection or vaccines.
"This will make COVID cases less severe, but the sheer number of cases still has the potential to overwhelm our health-care system which is something we are monitoring closely."
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said the next few weeks will be challenging.
"We must learn to live with this virus," she said.
"Vaccines work and now more than ever with the Omicron variant circulating thoughout Manitoba, it is crucial that all Manitobans get fully vaccinated, including the third dose when you're eligible."
Atwal said given the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, public health can't manage cases on an individual level.
"We have to focus on managing the risk at the community level. We have to shift to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and away from containing the virus," he said.
"It means we are shifting our approaches to focus our efforts and our resources to best manage the risk."
He said the best way for people to protect themselves is to get vaccinated and to get their booster shot.
This is a developing story. More details to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.