New COVID-19 restrictions take effect today in a health region in western Manitoba which accounted for most of yesterday's 72 new cases.

Indoor and outdoor public gatherings in the Prairie Mountain health region will be limited to 10 people, with some exceptions that include religious gatherings.

Masks will also be mandatory for indoor public places and any public gatherings.

The province says that preliminary investigation shows that most of yesterday's new cases are a result of extra testing that's being done due to known clusters in communal-living settings in the region.