Unvaccinated Manitobans that work in these jobs will have to undergo rapid testing starting in October
As of next month, designated front-line workers such as health-care workers and teachers will need to undergo regular rapid COVID-19 testing if they are unvaccinated, according to a new public health order.
On Friday, the province announced that as of Oct. 18, designated public-sector workplaces will need to make rapid testing available on-site for unvaccinated employees.
“This new order requires all public servants who have direct and ongoing or prolonged contact with vulnerable populations to undergo regular testing procedures or be fully vaccinated,” Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon said in a news release.
The province said the order applies to:
- health-care personnel;
- school personnel;
- licensed child-care facility personnel;
- public servants who regularly have direct and ongoing or prolonged direct contact with vulnerable populations;
- child and family service personnel;
- funded agency personnel in direct contact with vulnerable populations;
- home care workers; and
- paramedics.
The province is estimating this could include around 20,000 individuals who may potentially have to undergo regular testing.
HOW RAPID TESTING WILL WORK
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said how this will look will be different from sector to sector.
Employees who choose not to be vaccinated, are not fully vaccinated, or cannot show proof of vaccination by Oct. 18, will need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and show a negative result before they can keep working.
Roussin said the province will be using Abbott PanBio and BD Veritor COVID-19 antigen tests. Both return tests within 15 minutes.
Scott Sinclair, Deputy Minister of Central Services, said initially the province will be giving these tests to the public sector free of charge because the province has an 'ample supply' of tests from the federal government.
"That may change as inventories change or supplies change," he said.
These employees will need to test negative within the last 48 hours in order to work. Roussin said depending on an employee's schedule, this could be up to three tests in a week.
If an employee tests positive on a rapid test, they will need to go to a provincial testing site to take a test and self-isolate until the results have come back.
If the results are negative, the province said they can return to work. If the results are positive, the province said the employee will need to self-isolate for 10 days and receive a negative rapid test result before returning to work.
Once they are fully vaccinated and show proof, they will not be required to do regular rapid testing.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN EMPLOYEE REFUSES TESTING?
The province said vaccination is not a condition of employment.
"In really broad terms, the health order is very clear that in order to be in the workplace you certainly need to have either shown proof of vaccination or the testing," said Charlene Paquin, the civil service commissioner.
She said if people refuse to be vaccinated or undergo regular testing, the province will deal with it on a case-by-case basis.
"I think nobody is looking to have anybody lose a job over this," Paquin said. "Our objective would be to work with employees to try to help understand their hesitation and try to work with them to understand where we're coming from on this and find a solution."
The province said this public health order does not apply to the private sector, not-for-profit sector, or organizations that may choose to enact their own vaccination or testing requirements. Those that do have their own vaccine requirements can access rapid tests through the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.