Manitoba public health orders that were set to expire tonight after midnight will continue for an additional week as Public Health continues to assess the spread and impact of the omicron variant. The current orders will be extended until 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Manitoba remains at the Orange (Restricted) level under the Pandemic Response System.
To view updates to the orders, click here.
Provincial data released today indicates that severe outcomes from the spread of the omicron variant may have peaked. Admissions to hospital and intensive care units are high but either stable or slowly declining in recent weeks. However, recent data from Winnipeg wastewater suggests the viral count may once again be increasing. Test positivity rates have limitations because they only include PCR tests. They have been high and stable at around 30 per cent in most regions.
The Province of Manitoba also announced that it is putting in place a new program that will provide financial assistance for meals, transportation and accommodations or link to community support resources when a person is relocated to a facility outside of their region for on-going inpatient care. As a part of the inter-regional transfer policy, the patient’s regional health authority or service delivery organization will work directly with the patient and a designated support person to coordinate financial assistance. The program will allow for up to eight visits per month by a designated support person, as well as:
- meal vouchers so the designated support person can dine with the client when on-site meal service is available, or assistance to a maximum of $8 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $15 for dinner when on-site meal service is unavailable;
- transportation assistance of return bus fare or gas expenses; and
- accommodation assistance up to a maximum of $70 per night plus taxes.
This is effective as of January 28, 2022. The province will also work with the approximately 250 transfers that occurred prior to today to ensure these situations are addressed.
