Manitobans fighting COVID fatigue in Third Wave get encouragement from Top Doc

Dr. Brent Roussin says he understands Manitobans are tired and is encouraging them to do their part in keeping others safe.

Health officials remain firm that activities such as sports and in-person learning are safe, but in general, they are finding lax attitudes about restrictions outside these structures. They attribute this to rising case numbers.

"We are all tired of this pandemic. We are tired of these restrictions, we are tired of not doing the things we love and need to do, tired of not seeing family and friends," Roussin says in a Monday press conference.

He says the past 15 months have been challenging for Manitobans, understanding why people are tired. The doctor says they tried to open up recreation and low-risk activities, but now the province has to restrict them further. Roussin is hopeful this will lessen in the upcoming weeks but says more restrictions could be coming if cases get worse.

"Whether it was carpooling or get together after or we heard a lot of cases of having sleepovers and it was justified (by parents). I think it is a lot of fatigue the and I think it is difficult to have to try to get back to some things with that sense of normalcy."

Roussin says it is a challenge to get Manitobans to follow the orders when they are tired of them.

"We need to really try to get that message out that it is so important that we try to stop these transmission chains that we reduce the amount of contacts that we have with other households."

Contact tracers are finding Manitobans who are symptomatic and getting tested are isolating, but other household members are not.

"Positive tests eventually come back where people have been at work and at school or out and about and later they turn positive, so a lot of avoidable contacts there."

Other examples of fatigue the province is seeing is during contact tracing.

Roussin says people are not being as forthcoming about their activities and contacts with public health nurses. The doctor says this information is to contact contacts and will not be relayed to enforcement officials.

Roussin is optimistic that Manitobans can turn the cases around. He says as demonstrated in the fall, the health measures work.

"This time though, as we are implementing these public health measures, we have increasing vaccinations occurring. Every passing day, more and more Manitobans are protected."

The doctor says vaccines are "going to be our way out of this" and is optimistic the when following the health orders and fundamentals Manitoba can return to doing what they love.