Dr. Jazz Atwal is cautioning Manitobans against comparing test rates across the province once rural test rates become public knowledge.

The Deputy Chief Public Health Officer was not able to share test rates for areas in Manitoba during a Wednesday press conference but is expecting to be able to share that data by Friday on a bi-weekly basis. This will also include how many PCR tests were taken.

"I want to remind Manitobans that the test positivity rate can be highly variable, particularly in regions with smaller populations and are based on the number of tests conducted in that region which can be impacted by active outbreaks in the area," Atwal says.

He says rural rates might not be comparable to Winnipeg or provincial rates. 

The province rarely releases test rate data for regions other than Winnipeg, saying the low number of tests being taken in other areas will alter the data.

Atwal says looking at the data, they are not anticipating a "lockdown" but are looking at other measures to prevent the virus from spreading and impacting the acute care system.

"We are monitoring the situation in Southern Heath as we are monitoring the situation across the province. We are looking to see if there is anything else we can do from a measures perspective and recommendations to government."

Manitoba has seen the number of breakthrough COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated people. Atwal and Dr. Joss Reimer say they closely monitor breakthroughs, looking at who ends up in hospitals and intensive care. They are comparing it between those who are vaccinated and those who are not.

"We see constantly that the risks, particularly of the severe outcomes, are much much higher in those who are not vaccinated, but the risks are not zero in people who are vaccinated," Reimer says.

On Wednesday it was announced that all Manitobans over the age of 70 and Indigenous people over the age of 18 are now eligible for a third shot.

Dr. Marcia Anderson, the public health lead of the Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response and Coordination Team says COVID-19 cases in First Nations communities are 4.2 times higher than the national average.

"Pre-existing gaps in health experienced by First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples also result in a higher risk of severe outcomes," Anderson says.

She says that the number of Indigenous people with pre-existing conditions associated with higher risks with COVID is also higher than average.

Reimer says they are looking at other groups and approaches for third vaccine eligibility.