'Puts everybody at risk': Winnipeg doctor speaks out on the dangers of lifting mask mandate
A Winnipeg doctor said the Manitoba government’s decision to lift the mask mandate, “puts everybody at risk.”
“It’s probably not something that needed to be done at this stage,” said Dr. Anand Kumar, an ICU physician and infectious disease specialist.
On Tuesday, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, announced the province’s latest plans for reopening, which include lifting the province’s mask mandate for indoor public places.
Kumar noted that masks help to protect other people, adding that in particular children under 12, who can’t be vaccinated, need to be protected.
“The best way to protect them is to continue public health measures, particularly masking,” he said.
With Manitoba now moving from public health restrictions to recommendations, it could potentially lead to greater stress on the health-care system – something Kumar notes could be an issue.
“We’ve had a tremendous attrition of acute care here, both in the ICU and on the wards,” he said.
“I think it would be very difficult for us at this stage to ramp up anywhere near as much as we did last winter, never mind the spring. So I think it’s something we have to be very careful about.”
He pointed out that other places, including England and the United States, are starting to see large spikes, not just in COVID-19 cases, but in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“Particularly for the children’s hospital, we’re going to have to keep a really close eye out on that,” Kumar said.
Manitoba's latest round of public health orders will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7.
Individual businesses will be able to decide whether they want to continue to require staff and customers to wear masks. Masks will still be required in health-care facilities, including hospitals and personal care homes.
- With files from CTV’s Renee Rodgers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.