A new public health order will come into effect on October 18th for designated front-line public servants who are not fully vaccinated.

Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon made that announcement Friday afternoon.

On August 24th, the Manitoba government announced requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccination for designated front-line public servants. This builds on the rapid testing provisions for employees in personal care homes launched in December 2020, and the Fast Pass sites in the province's school system for teachers and educational workers launched in early 2021.

"This new order requires all public servants who have direct and ongoing or prolonged contact with vulnerable populations to undergo regular testing procedures or be fully vaccinated," says Gordon. "These measures are being put in place as early as possible to protect vulnerable Manitobans and public servants from a fourth wave of COVID-19 and the more transmissible delta variant."

The order applies to:

  • health-care personnel;
  • school personnel;
  • licensed child-care facility personnel;
  • public servants who regular have direct and ongoing or prolonged direct contact with
    vulnerable populations;
  • child and family service personnel;
  • funded agency personnel in direct contact with vulnerable populations;
  • home care workers; and
  • paramedics.

Under the public health order, designated public-sector workplaces will be required to make rapid testing available on-site for unvaccinated employees. The regular provincial COVID-19 testing sites will remain available for these employees if they have received a positive rapid test, have COVID-19 symptoms or have otherwise been directed by public health officials to seek a test at such a provincial testing site.

"Nothing is more important than the health and safety of vulnerable Manitobans during this fourth COVID-19 wave," says Gordon. "Ensuring public-sector workers that provide valuable public services like health care and education services are routinely tested for COVID-19 or fully immunized will help ensure the safety of their workplace and the people they serve."

Under the order, affected employees who choose not to be vaccinated, who are not fully vaccinated or cannot provide proof of vaccination by October 18 will undergo regular COVID-19 testing, and will be required to provide proof of a negative test result before they can resume working. Once an employee is fully vaccinated and can provide proof of vaccination, they will no longer be required to take part in routine rapid testing.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated employees who work in certain areas of government must have tested negative for COVID-19 within the last 48 hours in order to work.

If an affected employee tests positive using a rapid test, they must report to a provincial testing facility to take a test and self-isolate until they receive their results. If the test comes back negative, they may return to work. If the test is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days before they return to work, test negative again with a rapid test and provide those results to their workplace.

Scott Sinclair is Deputy Minister for Central Services. He says because Manitoba has received ample tests from the federal government free of charge, these tests for the public sector will be provided at no cost. However, this may change as supplies change. Results from the rapid tests are available within 15 minutes.

Dana Rudy is Deputy Minister of Education. She notes currently the requirement for schools is that those electing to do mandatory testing will need to do so three times a week if they are full time employees. Two of those tests can be performed at home and the third test will need to be done in their school. Each school will designate a supervisor to support that process.