Manitoba has plans to end its self-isolation requirements on March 15th. This is one more step in Manitoba's effort to remove all COVID-19 restrictions.
As of Tuesday, the province has eliminated any requirements for proof of vaccine. The province had already indicated that on March 15th, the mask mandate would be lifted. Today, Deputy Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal went one step further and announced the potential change for self-isolating.
The current public health order states that if you test positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate for five days if you are fully vaccinated, and 10 days if you are not fully vaccinated.
"On March 15th, this will also shift from a public health requirement to a public health recommendation," notes Dr. Atwal.
He says the province will be releasing more information on this in the coming days.
Even though the order might be removed, Dr. Atwal says this will not change Public Health's message to Manitobans. That message is, if you feel sick, no matter what your respiratory symptoms might be, you should be staying home and giving your body time to recover, reducing the likelihood of spreading the illness to someone else.
Dr. Atwal says with hospitalizations and ICU numbers dropping and with fewer case counts, it appears now is a good time to make the shift.
Also on March 15th, Manitoba plans to end its COVID-19 investigations. Currently, when a positive test result is received from the lab, the province contacts the individual to let them know and then also tries to determine where that individual might have caught or transmitted COVID-19.
Meanwhile, another four million rapid antigen tests are being made available to Manitobans free of charge. One five-test pack per person or two per household will be made available at the following locations:
Co-ops (42 locations)
Loblaw/Shoppers Drug Mart (59 locations)
London Drugs (1 location)
North West Company (29 Locations)
Rexall (18 locations)
Save On Foods (5 locations)
Safeway, Sobeys and IGA (40 locations)
Walmart (16 locations)