Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin have announced that the province will put indoor mask requirements in place across Manitoba in the coming days, including in schools.
The province will also expand the list of activities and services that can only be accessed if an individual is fully immunized.
The Manitoba government will also require all provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations to be fully immunized for COVID-19 by October 31st or undergo regular testing.
This includes direct healthcare providers and workers, educational workers, child-care workers, public servants and funded-agency employees who work in high-risk settings with direct, ongoing contact with the public or clients, and Manitoba Justice employees who work with vulnerable people and in correctional facilities.
Designated employees who are not fully immunized or cannot provide proof of vaccination will need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, up to three times a week for full-time employees, and provide proof of a negative test result before they can resume working.
Pallister says these steps are necessary to protect children in Manitoba and avoid another lockdown.
“Despite having among the highest rates of vaccination in Canada, children in Manitoba are not yet eligible for the vaccine and we have to take every step we can to protect them from this virus, especially as they prepare to return to the classroom this fall.”
Dr. Brent Roussin stated all these measures are necessary to guard against the delta variant and a fourth wave of COVID-19.
Roussin added that public health officials also recommend that private businesses and organizations follow the province’s lead and consider mandating COVID-19 vaccination for their employees.
