The Manitoba Government is requiring employees in certain sectors to be fully vaccinated from COVID-19 by October 31st, or undergo regular testing.

Designated workers include:

• direct health-care providers and workers, including but not limited to physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, support service staff and others deemed appropriate for each site/area/program in public and private health-care settings, and direct care providers are defined as anyone who may come in contact with patients/residents/clients, patient/resident/client care environments, patient/resident/client care equipment, and blood and body fluids;

• educational workers including teachers, school and educational support staff, practicum students, bus drivers and custodial staff;

• child-care workers including staff and practicum students working in licensed early learning and child care facilities;

• public servants and funded-agency employees who work in in high-risk settings with direct, ongoing contact with the public or clients, such as those who work in congregate/residential settings or group homes, or work with vulnerable populations including children, or have to enter the home of a client or who regularly visit sites with vaccine mandates in place as part of their duties; and

• Manitoba Justice employees who work with vulnerable people and in correctional facilities.

“Designated employees who are not fully immunized or cannot provide proof of vaccination will need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, up to three times a week for full-time employees, and provide proof of a negative test result before they can resume working.” the province says in a news release.

Those choosing to get the vaccine need to get their first dose by September 7, and the second dose by October 17.

Acceptable proof of vaccination includes a physical or digital copy of a Manitoba Immunization Card, or a secure printed provincial immunization record from either public health or the Shared Health online portal that shows immunization dates.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister also announced that to combat a possible fourth wave of the virus, Manitoba will require everyone to wear a mask in public indoor settings including schools.

“These steps are necessary to protect children in Manitoba, avoid another lockdown, and keep our health-care system safe from a fourth wave of COVID-19 and the dangerous delta variant,” Pallister said in a news release. “Despite having among the highest rates of vaccination in Canada, children in Manitoba are not yet eligible for the vaccine and we have to take every step we can to protect them from this virus, especially as they prepare to return to the classroom this fall.”