Manitoba’s vaccine mandates likely to stay in place until next year: Roussin
The province is reminding people to keep their proof of COVID-19 vaccination cards handy, as vaccine mandates will be sticking around in Manitoba until next year.
During a media briefing on Monday, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, said current vaccine mandates will likely stay in effect into the new year.
“Given the state of our health-care system and the demands that respiratory virus season will be likely to put on it, it’s very likely we’ll have to take us through this winter,” said Dr. Roussin.
Currently, Manitobans need to show proof of vaccination for entrance into certain public places, such as gyms, sporting events, concerts, and restaurants. In addition, there are vaccine requirements for employees in certain sectors like health-care and education.
With a third COVID-19 booster shot now being recommended for some Manitobans, the province said not having one won’t affect an individual’s ability to get a vaccine card.
Roussin said there are no immediate plans to make third vaccine doses a requirement to get a vaccination card.
If it were, it would take an unvaccinated person about seven months to be eligible to receive a vaccine card because the third dose is only recommended six months after an individual’s second dose.
Right now, it is only a recommendation for a select portion of the population, including health-care workers, personal care home residents, and First Nations people living on reserve.
“In all of the eligible people now for a third dose, it’s a recommendation to them providing the reasons why," he said, adding it's not impacting their current status as fully vaccinated.
Roussin said following several large events in Winnipeg, including several NHL and CFL games, health officials have not been able to tie any transmission to those events but noted there’s some complexity in linking cases to the events.
“With our relatively low numbers in Winnipeg we would be able to pick up on trends if people were cooperative with the contact tracing,” said Roussin.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING 14 suspects arrested in grandparent scam targeting seniors across Canada: Ontario police
An interprovincial investigation into a 'grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed in Trump hush money trial as prosecutors ask for former president to face contempt
Prosecutors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
It's the biggest election in history. Here's why few Indians in Canada will take part
In the Indian general election that gets underway on Friday, almost a billion people are eligible to vote, but a vast majority of the overseas Indian community in Canada won't be casting a ballot.
McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.