Health minister warns of tougher restrictions soon if Manitoba cannot control COVID-19 case eruption
CBC
Audrey Gordon says she won't hesitate to impose tougher pandemic restrictions on Manitobans, if the latest round of public health orders don't bring down the soaring infection rate.
The health minister is confident the new restrictions targeting religious gatherings and youth sports announced last Friday will be enough.
But if it isn't, Gordon will return before the cameras to announce stricter measures.
"I could be out next week making changes if we see the uptick [of COVID-19 cases] continue," she said in an interview Sunday on CBC's Rosemary Barton Live.
Despite Manitoba becoming the hot spot for COVID-19 infections in Canada, the province has so far steered clear of imposing another near-lockdown, as it did in past pandemic waves.
WATCH | Gordon confident current pandemic rules will deliver:
On Friday, the province announced new pandemic measures focused on youth sports, hospital capacity and some unvaccinated churchgoers.
It will require youth aged 12 to 17 to either be vaccinated or tested regularly for COVID-19 if they play indoor sports, beginning on Dec. 6.
COVID cases are rising the fastest in the under-20 crowd, provincial data confirms.
As well, a number of upcoming surgeries in Winnipeg will be cancelled to free up intensive care beds, while gathering rules will tighten for religious events in southeastern Manitoba that do not check vaccination status.
These measures are about as far as the province can go before it has to start restricting the activities of vaccinated people, Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at a news conference on Friday.
But Gordon thinks it will slow the spread of COVID-19.
"I certainly do believe that they will," she said. "They are meant to lower the numbers of individuals that are congregating," which is "when we see the transmission of COVID."
That's the reasoning to restrict attendance at places of worship in Southern Health, which is dealing with the highest infection rate and lowest vaccination uptake.
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