Strict public health restrictions in Manitoba are being extended another two weeks.
The province-wide shutdown was scheduled to end midnight Friday but its been stretched to January 22.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin says they saw a good response to the numbers throughout the later part of December and that has translated to some improvements on the strains in the health care system.
“But were not back at normal and now in fact we see we’re at risk of accelerated increase in numbers again. So were not really ready to make those changes. We’re still at risk in our system. We still have a strain on the health care system. Our numbers were going in the right direction but now we’re at risk of reversing that.”
Dr. Roussin says the extension decision was made following reports of large gatherings over the holiday period.
He notes 355 of their current cases are linked to large holiday gatherings with almost 1,900 contacts.
Dr. Roussin adds Manitoba had gathering sizes that took place of more than two dozen people.
There is an exemption in the new orders to allow the Winnipeg Jets play their upcoming games at Bell MTS Place.
Dr. Roussin says that’s because of strict protocols put in place by the NHL.
