Thread by @ScottBilleck

Premier Brian Pallister begins presser by saying that vaccines are our way out of this pandemic... how we get our lives back

Here's the news:

Government will require all provincial employees who work with vulnerable populations to be fully immunized for COVID-19 by Oct. 31, or undergo regular testing, to protect Manitoba against a fourth COVID-19 wave

And more:

The province will put indoor mask requirements in place across Manitoba in the coming days, including in schools, and will expand the list of activities and services that can only be accessed if an individual is fully immunized.

Designated workers include:
• direct health-care providers and workers, including but not limited to physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, support service staff and others deemed appropriate for each site/area/program in public and...

... private health-care settings, and direct care providers are defined as anyone who may come in contact with patients/residents/clients, patient/resident/client care environments, patient/resident/client care equipment, and blood and body fluids;

• educational workers including teachers, school and educational support staff, practicum students, bus drivers and custodial staff;

• child-care workers including staff and practicum students working in licensed early learning and child care facilities;

• public servants and funded-agency employees who work in in high-risk settings with direct, ongoing contact with the public or clients, such as those who work in congregate/residential settings or group homes or...

... work with vulnerable populations including children, or have to enter the home of a client or who regularly visit sites with vaccine mandates in place as part of their duties;

• Manitoba Justice employees who work with vulnerable people and in correctional facilities.

Each designated worker will be required to be fully immunized and provide proof of vaccination, or undergo regular COVID-19 testing.

This includes MLAs.

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 masks are back to being mandated in all public places in the province.

For fully vaxxed requirement for gov't employees:

The first dose needs to be completed by Sept. 7, the first day of school, and the second dose completed by Oct. 17.

Roussin says fourth wave is inevitable, but what it looks like can be mitigated.

Roussin says our vaccine rate is not rising quick enough in the face of the Delta variant.

So it's not a vaccine mandate. A lot of testing for those who choose not to get vaccinated.

Roussin says they hope private business following the province's lead in mandating (although it's not techincally a mandate).

Roussin says an updated list of events and services will come in the next few days where people need to be fully vaxxed.

Roussin says no mandate right now for eligible children to be vaccinated to go to school.

Strong recommendation.

Pallister says no region has mandated vaccines completely.

No date set yet for when these new orders will come into effect. Will be known later this week.

Pallister says the projections in other jurisdictions bother him.

Pallister says we are in a serious situation that needs preemptive action.

Roussin says goal is to limit the people who want to be tested three times a week by getting them vaccinated instead. Doesn't say who will foot the bill for that testing yet, or what type of testing will be used.

Roussin says they were confident of lifting mask mandate three weeks ago. Now seeing what is around them, masks mandate needs to come back.

Pallister will not say when he is leaving office.

Pallister hinted at the projections coming later this afternoon being unfavourable.

How much long do you give low uptake areas before regional restritions?

Roussin doesn't say.

The indoor mask mandate will be in place prior to school starting, Roussin confirms.

Roussin says they will be doing a very clear job today of showing the risk of Delta.

The mask mandate in schools will be in place for all grades.

Is Roussin satisfied with ICU capacity and resiliency?

Says people have been resilient. Capacity, he says, about staffing. Says it is very challenging to largely increase. Inroads made, he said. Defers details to Shared Health.

Presser over. More to come at winnipegsun.com