Manitoba's top doctor says a post-pandemic Manitoba is in the near future.

Lower daily case counts and high vaccination rates are changing the province's pandemic projection. Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer, says in a Monday press conference that the province is on its way to moving away from being in a pandemic state.

"We're going to move to a Manitoba without public health restrictions, more guidance, and less time spent on reporting on COVID numbers because it's endemic rather than a pandemic. So when that actually occurs is not settled as of right now but we are certainly ahead of schedule," Roussin says.

Come fall, Roussin is unsure about what COVID-19 will bring.

In September schools will reopen, but at least half of the students attending will not be vaccinated due to those younger than 12 not being eligible for the vaccine. A school plan is in the works set to be unveiled in the near future.

roussinRoussin is unsure of what the fall's COVID-19 situation will be like, but does say they will slow down case reporting. (Screenshot: Government of Manitoba/YouTube)

An hour after Roussin spoke to the media, the province announced it is extending the state of emergency.

“As we continue towards our government’s safe summer reopening plan to allow for fewer restrictions and further rebuild our economy, we need Manitobans to continue to follow the fundamentals and get vaccinated to ensure we keep on a positive trajectory to a post-pandemic Manitoba," Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says in a statement.

The province says the extension, set to last for thirty more days, is in part to keep the Emergency Measures Organization going, allowing the province to work with affected industries to "co-ordinate, collaborate and communicate effectively in supporting the rollout of programs and services to assist in Manitoba’s COVID-19 response strategy."

Moving forward, Roussin says COVID will be a "disease of the unvaccinated" and is encouraging Manitobans to get vaccinated.