'What we are doing is not yet working': Manitoba health minister teases new rules to slow COVID-19

Manitoba's health minister strongly hinted Thursday thatfurther restrictionsto curba troublingspikein COVID-19 cases are coming, saying "what we are doing is not yet working."

Cameron Friesen said officials are evaluating how toflatten the rise in the number of positive cases, deaths and hospitalizations, and how that might affect businesses and services in the province.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the province'schiefpublic health officer, is likely to address that at a scheduled news conference on Friday, Friesen said.

"I'm sure that the discussion about what is open and what might be curtailed or adjusted will all be on the menu for Dr. Roussin as he updates Manitobans tomorrow."

The worsening outlook, punctuated Thursday by a record 193 new cases and 97 hospitalizations, has led Roussin to conclude the current measuresaren't working, Friesen said.

"That discussion of what to do next is underway right now."

The province has, in recent weeks, introduced new measures forresidents and businesses aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, particularly in Winnipeg, which has seen the bulk of Manitoba's cases this fall.

The Winnipeg metropolitan area was moved to the orange, or restricted, level on the province's pandemic response system late last month. That gives the province options to impose a range of restrictions on the region some of which it has not yet exercised.

Stand-alone nightclubs with live music in the city have been ordered closed, bars cannotservealcohol after 10 p.m. and gathering sizes are limited to only five people. Those measures have also now been extended to the Northern Health region.

Schools in those regions faced additional restrictions that came into effect this past Monday, including a stronger push to ensure two metres of physical distancing in classrooms.

WATCH | Manitoba health minister hints at increased COVID-19 restrictions as cases soar:

Manitoba health minister hints at increased COVID-19 restrictions as cases soar

4 years ago

Duration 0:30

Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen said Thursday that the current measures in place don't seem to be slowing the spread of COVID-19, hinting that new restrictions are coming.

Action needed, health minister says

The minister said there areenough concerning trends in the case numbers, mortality rates and hospital capacity to prompt action.

"As we see morepeople coming into hospital, that is cause for concern, and that is why we then move to put into effect changes."

Friesen also said the province would strive to be fair with any new orders. There have been complaints, for example, that bars can remain open under current rules, yet socializing in homes is frowned upon.

NDP Leader Wab Kinewwants the public health orders to matchpleas from the chief public health officer.

Roussin said Wednesday that nobody should hold a Halloween party, althoughcurrent restrictions permit ahousehold to invite as many as five guests.

"I don't think there should be a difference between the advice andthe order," Kinewsaid.

"Why don't we just have a very clear regime, where Dr. Roussinis going to say, 'Stop socializing outside of your household,' then that's actually the rule that people are being asked to abide by?"

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the province should be honest with Manitobans if it is considering any shifts on the pandemic response system to the red, or critical, level.

Such achange couldincludefurther restrictions on gathering sizes and stopping in-class learning for most kindergarten to Grade 12 students.

"A couple of days ago, we were already talking about how we're going torunthe legislature if it's under code red," Lamont said.

"Frankly, everyone should know that that's something weneed to prepare for."