Manitoba taking measured reopening approach, officials still concerned about Delta variant
Manitobans will have more freedoms starting on Saturday as the province announced its first steps of reopening.
Manitoba hit the first vaccination target early, but health officials said they still have concerns from about COVID-19 specifically, the Delta variant.
"While the case numbers are improving and our health-care system is seeing some relief, this pandemic is certainly not over," said Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer.
"The variants of concern, especially the Delta variant, is circulating and continues to be a concern."
As of Wednesday, there has been 164 cases of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in the province. Of these cases, 158 have recovered and four are considered active.
Two deaths have been linked to the Delta variant in Manitoba.
Roussin said the main push right now is to get Manitobans fully vaccinated with both doses, as that will help fight back against the Delta variant.
"We're not focused just on what percentage of Manitobans get the first dose, it's that second dose and you can see that's dramatically climbing," Roussin said.
He said the second dose uptake will continue to climb this week.
He added that Manitobans deserve to have loosened restrictions but noted this is still a measured approach.
Manitoba has had 14,749 variant of concern cases and there are currently 1,050 active cases.
There have been 7,880 unspecified variants, 6,413 cases of the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7.), 201 cases of the P.1 variant, 67 cases of the B.1.351 variant, 15 cases of the B.1.617.1 variant, and nine cases of the B.1.617. variant.
Manitoba has had 140 deaths linked to variants of concern.
Roussin said people need to continue to practise the fundamentals, noting this is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and any of the variants.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.