During a press conference last Friday Manitoba Chief Public Health officer Dr Brent Rousin was asked if there is a possibility that certain COVID 19 restrictions could be reinstated as we have seen an increase in cases.

 

Rousin stated that it’s never been off the table and restrictions were implemented when it was needed and were loosened when there was an improvement in transmission.

 

With the increase in cases Rousin said that we don’t need to put in heavy restrictions again if we stick to COVID fundamentals such as wearing masks with the hope that restrictions will be unnecessary. 

 

Rousin recommends self isolating as soon as you feel symptomatic and go for testing.

 

He says we have learned a lot through this pandemic and heavy restrictions put in place early on had major impacts on flattening the curve as well as impacts on health and the economy.

 

The goal is to limit the need for widespread COVID 19 restrictions like we had in the past and this can be done by having Manitobans follow COVID 19 fundamentals like social distancing and mask wearing.

 

Rousin wants to acknowledge that this pandemic is expected last a long time and that we can’t continue to rely on massive shutdowns to get through the pandemic.  
 

You can watch provincial COVID updates by subscribing to the Manitoba Government You Tube Channel