Manitoba to end mandatory isolation for COVID-19 positive tests March 15
More changes could be coming to Manitoba and how the province deals with COVID-19 as health officials say the shift from a pandemic response to an endemic response is underway.
Dr. Jazz Atwal, the deputy chief provincial public health officer, said on Wednesday that if the COVID situation continues to improve, the requirement to self-isolate when testing positive for COVID-19 could turn into a recommendation.
"No matter what your respiratory symptoms are, it's still recommended to stay home when you are sick. To give your body time to recover and to reduce the likelihood of spreading that illness to someone else," said Atwal.
This change would come into place on March 15, the same day that the mask mandate is expected to be lifted.
Despite these changes, Atwal said the message remains the same for Manitobans that they should stay home when they are sick, noting that has been the message before COVID-19.
"With COVID, that messaging was very strong and we're going to continue to message that."
He added people need to learn to live with COVID and said the message to stay home when sick is something that is directed at all illnesses, not just COVID.
Also on March 15, Atwal said the province will be ending COVID-19 case investigations.
Atwal noted that this change will not impact people's ability to get tested and getting their results, this change means officials will no longer investigate where COVID was originally transmitted for that specific case.
"We also need to adjust to the information we collect and share with Manitobans. Real-time data is less critical with endemic reporting. Instead, we would shift our focus to key pieces of information that will provide the most relevant epidemiological evidence and data for both the public and decision-makers."
He added the data will continue to be monitored by health officials and changes will be made depending on the COVID situation, noting plans are being worked on to prepare for another possible variant.
On top of these changes, Atwal said four million more rapid tests will be available for Manitobans at select retailers and supplies are expected to be available early next week.
Atwal added these tests will be free of charge and people will be allowed two kits per visit, with each kit containing five tests.
COVID-19 NUMBERS
Looking at the daily COVID data from the province, officials said two more deaths have been recorded, bringing the total to 1,682.
In hospital, there are 464 people requiring care due to COVID, including 30 people in the ICU.
Manitoba added 163 cases on Wednesday, bringing the active case count to 9,776, but officials have said those numbers are likely different as at-home tests are not recorded in the daily numbers.
The five-day test positivity rate is 13.7 per cent.
On the vaccine front, 86.2 per cent of eligible Manitobans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, 82.1 per cent are fully vaccinated and 43.8 per cent have received three doses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW These two chemists were friends for decades. A DNA test revealed they were actually cousins
Jim Arner was always interested in genealogy and discovering more about his ancestry. But after submitting his own DNA test, he learned an old work colleague was actually a distant cousin.
'Deeply unhappy' grocery shoppers plan to boycott Loblaw-owned stores in May
A boycott targeting Loblaw is gaining momentum online, with what could be thousands of shoppers taking their money elsewhere in May.
U.S. CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Road closed in Oak Bay, B.C., so elephant seal can cross
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Aerial photos show wide devastation left by a deadly tornado in China's Guangzhou
Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.