On the days when most Manitobans do not have to work, the province is closing its COVID-19 vaccine supersites.
People wanting to get a COVID-19 vaccine on December 25 and 26, and January 1, will need to go somewhere else because the province's supersites will be closed.
"There are hundreds of locations across the province that people can go. I know some of them will be open on those days, others will be closed. So we really encourage Manitobans to try to get a vaccine on whatever day in whatever location that they can," Manitoba's COVID-19 vaccine task force leader Dr. Joss Reimer says in a Wednesday press conference.
This includes medical clinics and pharmacies if they are open.
Provincial testing sites will remain open throughout the holidays.
Testing tensions
Winnipeggers have been lining up, waiting for a walk-in COVID-19 test as case numbers rise, many of whom are waiting for hours on sidewalks or in their vehicle in the cold.
We have been told by a worker at a provincial COVID-19 testing site that fights, road rage issues, and verbal arguments are happening regularly throughout this week, as Winnipeggers flock to get tested for COVID-19.
A spokesperson from the Winnipeg Police Service says they were called once over the past two weeks, on Monday to the testing site on King Edward Street.
"It was a dispute between individuals in vehicles; however, no injuries or fights were reported," Cst. Dani McKinnon says in an email.
In most traffic-related incidents she says it could be reported as taking place at a nearby intersection and is unable to identify if these instances are related to testing sites.
"I think we need to be kind to each other. There is a lot of pressure on people. There is a lot of pressure on the system right now. We need to be kind," Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal says.
He says municipalities have added people to help manage lines, and the province is looking to expand testing capability.
There were 3,524 tests completed Tuesday.