Roussin announcing new Public Health Orders Wednesday

Manitoba will see changes to the current COVID-19 restrictions coming this weekend, but what they will be is still being discussed.

As of Monday morning, Manitoba has reached its first COVID-19 vaccination targets first announced as part of the 4-3-2 One Great Summer Reopening Path. 

The province put out an infographic with its COVID-19 vaccine hopes. (Government of Manitoba)

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer says Manitoba has reached its first vaccination target, as announced earlier in June.

"We have met our vaccine targets ahead of schedule. Our rollout continues to move quite nicely," Roussin says in a Monday press conference.

As of Monday, 71.2 per cent of all Manitobans have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccine, and 25.4 per cent their second.

Roussin is set to announce new Public Health Orders on Wednesday. 

He says they are looking at factors such as test positivity rates, cases, and hospitalizations to decide what reopens.  Manitoba will see the effects of vaccination rates in the reopenings, but could not say what the reopening will look like.

"We do not look at just one indicator when we are taking these things into consideration. So yes, we have met those vaccine targets and so hat's off to the vaccine task force and to Manitobans for getting their shots, but that is only one thing we are considering when we are looking at our reopening plan."

The reopenings could also be regional as some parts of the province have vastly different vaccination rates.

"We haven't made that decision exactly yet on what the specifics will be, so stay tuned for Wednesday and we will have some of those specifics to share."

The  4-3-2 One Great Summer Reopening Path gives a vaccine target but does not say what the reopenings are. Manitoba's neighbours to the west have announced its plans, including Alberta Saskatchewan's full reopening in July. Manitoba is set to fully reopen in September.

"We are going to have to do things based on what we are seeing here and where we are."

Roussin says because the other provinces are ahead of Manitoba in their waves and peaks, they are able to reopen at a sooner date. He says they are watching the other province's reopening plan effects on cases closely.