Two more deaths linked to the COVID-19 Alpha variant were announced in Manitoba Monday.
“Our day-to-day case numbers continue to gradually improve over time, but our health-care system” is still overwhelmed, said Dr. Brent Roussin, the province’s chief public health officer.
“To bring an end to this, to get back to normal as soon as possible, we need to get vaccinated, we need to follow the fundamentals and follow public health orders.”
While the case numbers are starting to decline, it will take a week or two before intensive care and hospitalization numbers also go down, said Roussin.
“It’s such a lagging indicator,” said Roussin, noting that ICU numbers especially could be weeks as some people fight the virus longer.
On Monday, the province expanded eligibility for the second dose of the vaccine to anyone who had their first shot on or before May 1.