Work from home, limit contacts, doctors urge; province reports record number of new COVID cases

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This article was published 29/12/2021 (1742 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the highly infectious Omicron variant raging out of control, Manitoba’s top doctor defended current public health restrictions, as reported COVID-19 case counts soared to another pandemic high.

The province added 947 new infections Wednesday as the five-day test positivity rate grew to 24.2 per cent across Manitoba. The record-setting single-day increase in new cases was said to be an under-count due to a backlog of more than 11,500 tests that needed to be processed.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin stood by new orders that came into effect Tuesday, which reduced capacity for most public gatherings to 250 people or 50 per cent of the venue capacity, whichever was lower, and prohibited liquor sales past 10 p.m.

Intensive care physicians and critics have called for public health to order an even greater reduction in interactions between Manitobans to spare hospitals, with some describing the current strategy as taking a gamble Omicron will not spark a significant increase in admissions.

Roussin disputed that characterization during a noon-hour news conference Wednesday, adding the majority of Manitobans have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and current restrictions are in line with other provinces.

“We wouldn’t gamble with Manitobans’ health,” the doctor said.

“When we use terms like circuit breakers… they sound less severe than a lockdown but again, in two weeks’ time, Omicron is still going to be here,” he continued. “So we have to be prepared that when we say lock things down or a circuit breaker, that two weeks from now or three weeks from now we’re still dealing with this variant.”

However, Roussin said he would not speak harshly against a potential lockdown, due to the rapidly evolving situation posed by Omicron.

“So it’s certainly possible that we need to take further measures. But right now, we’ve put these measures in place and we’re going to have to continue to follow things.”

Meanwhile, the provincial physicians advocate association called on Manitobans to take personal action and to further cut back on their contacts.

“The government’s pandemic restrictions really are a minimum, and we are asking Manitobans to go even further to help slow the spread and reduce the risks,” Doctors Manitoba president Kristjan Thompson said in a statement.

Thompson, who is an emergency department doctor at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, said his colleagues are more worried than ever about the health system being overrun, as Omicron threatens to cause health-care providers to fall ill.

“Our hospitals were already being stretched before Omicron arrived, and if it continues to spread as fast as we are seeing, our ICUs could be overwhelmed within days or weeks,” Thompson said.

“That’s why we are asking Manitobans to help slow the spread of the virus, so we can spread out the impact on the health system.”

The physicians association appealed to Manitobans to reduce contacts, decrease time spent in indoor public places, stay home when ill, and work from home when possible.

Roussin also implored Manitobans to keep their social circle small as New Year’s Eve approaches.

“There certainly is a role for public health restrictions. They’re certainly necessary, but not sufficient,” Roussin said. “We need Manitobans on board with what we’re doing here: decreasing your contacts (and) isolating when you have symptoms.”

At this time, he said, no move has been made toward changing plans for the return to school after the winter break, which is set for Jan. 10. “We may have to pivot but right now, there’s no decision made on that.”

Officials also announced six more COVID-19 deaths, reported Tuesday and Wednesday: four of them were Winnipeggers, between the ages of 40 and 80; two were from Southern Health, with one in their 50s and one in their 80s.

There were 183 Manitobans being treated in hospital for COVID-19 (an increase of 19 patients), including 29 in intensive care.

“I am tired, you are tired; we are all tired of hearing about the importance of vaccination, and hearing about this virus, but this is one proven, effective thing that we can do.”–Dr. Joss Reimer

New outbreaks were also declared at Northern Spirit Manor personal care home in Thompson, and Actionmarguerite St. Boniface care home and Fred Douglas Lodge in Winnipeg.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the COVID-19 vaccine task force, urged Manitobans to push through the exhaustion.

“I am tired, you are tired; we are all tired of hearing about the importance of vaccination, and hearing about this virus, but this is one proven, effective thing that we can do. That we do have control over… along with following all the public health guidance,” she said.

— with files from Dylan Robertson

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca