Manitoba public health orders requiring masks in public places ends on March 15, 2022. However, masks will continue to be required for all individuals attending health care facilities.
Also effective March 15, the public health orders for isolation of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are being removed. The orders are being transitioned to public health guidelines, similar to how other communicable diseases are managed.
Isolation for COVID-19 is still advised (as per Manitoba Health) – see below.
- People with symptoms should stay home and isolate for five days after symptoms start, until you have no fever and other symptoms have improved over the past 24 hours.
- Individuals who have tested positive but do not develop symptoms should isolate for five days from the date of the test.
- Individuals should wear a well-fitting, well-made mask if you must have contact with other people while you are ill, when your isolation is finished, for 10 days after the onset of your symptoms, or test date if asymptomatic.
- People who have symptoms or test positive should avoid non-essential visits with higher-risk people or at higher-risk settings for 10 days after the onset of their symptoms, or test date if asymptomatic.
Massage Therapist can continue to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, assessing their risk and making decisions about using masks, physical distancing and other actions based on those risks.
As these restrictions are being lifted and we go from code yellow to code green on the Pandemic Response System, please keep in mind that individual clinics have the right to implement guidelines relating to their business as they see fit and some have chosen to keep the use of masks within their clinic and will monitor and reassess moving forward. The last two years has also shown that we need to continue to be flexible if restrictions need to be reintroduced on short notice and to approach transition with cautious optimism.
Testing
Starting March 14, COVID-19 testing sites will be available on a walk-in basis only. Testing locations can be found here.
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/testing/locations.html
Vaccinations
Manitoba is currently reviewing the level of direct COVID services it delivers as we transition to a time without the same level of public health orders in place. As more and more Manitobans get vaccinated, the demand for the super-sites is reducing and the availability of vaccine at pharmacies and doctors offices has increased. More information on changes to these sites will be announced in the near future.
RMTSMB strongly advises our members to continue to be proactive during this transition by implementing best practices; getting vaccinated, continuing to wear a mask, ongoing screening of patients/staff, testing and isolating and maintaining good hand hygiene.
As we transition forward with these restriction changes we encourage open and transparent communication between business owners, staff, therapist and patients.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the office.
info@rmtsmb.com
204-396-7795
In good health,
Pamela Gregoire, RMT
Executive Director/Registrar