The Manitoba government is following the advice of public health officials and making changes to the self-isolation public health order to adapt to the prevalence of rapid antigen tests and to help address the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced today. “We need to ensure we take steps to protect our health-care system and other critical services during this surge of COVID-19 cases, many linked to the omicron variant,” said Gordon. “These changes will help ensure everyone who should self-isolate does, regardless of how they tested, and will reduce the strain on the health-system workforce as well as other key sectors as more workers report they have contracted COVID-19.” The changes include: requiring all people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate including those who completed a rapid antigen test; changing isolation requirements to five days from 10 days since the date of the test for fully-vaccinated people who are not showing symptoms; changing isolation requirements to five days from 10 days since the date symptoms started appearing or the date of the test, whichever is later, for fully-vaccinated people as long as their symptoms are improving and they do not have a fever; requiring individuals who have only isolated for five days due to the changes above to wear medical-grade mask while in a public setting for the five days immediately following their self-isolation; and requiring isolation for people who have tested positive who are not fully vaccinated for 10 days after the date of their test as long as their symptoms are improving and they do not have a fever. The public health orders will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Public health documents and online guidance for stakeholders and the public is being updated and will be finalized in the days ahead. Public health officials also advise that people leaving isolation must avoid any non-essential visits to high-risk settings or non-essential contact with individuals at high risk for severe disease for an additional five days. Consistent with previous orders, the order continues to include: requiring close contacts who are not exempt from self-isolation requirements to self-isolate for 10 days; and requiring people to provide information about locations where people have been in the previous 10 days for contact tracing purposes as required. Public health officials also ask all household close contacts who are exempt from self-isolation to be particularly cautious while the case is isolating and avoid any non-essential visits to high-risk settings or non-essential contact with individuals at high risk for severe disease. “We have looked at data from Manitoba and other jurisdictions, and feel these changes will balance reducing the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring critical services can continue to operate,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer. “I ask all Manitobans to get immunized as soon as possible, including a third dose when eligible to reduce the number of close contacts they have, and to stay home as much as possible to reduce the risk of severe illness and reduce the spread of COVID-19.” Roussin also reminded Manitobans to follow the fundamentals, including wearing a well-fitting mask, washing their hands frequently and covering their cough. For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.

Auto insurance fraud costs Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayers an estimated $50 yearly. A dedicated Special Investigation Unit (SIU) at MPI is committed to investigating suspicious claims and detecting fraudsters on behalf of honest ratepayers. “MPI releases its annual top five fraud list to raise awareness about the costs related to auto insurance fraud,” said Satvir Jatana, MPI’s Chief Customer Officer. “The list is compiled based on the unique circumstances of each fraud, financial savings to MPI ratepayers, and the investigative techniques used in confirming fraudulent activity.” Anyone with information about auto insurance fraud is encouraged to call the Manitoba Public Insurance TIPS Line: 204-985-8477 or toll-free 1-877-985-8477. All calls are anonymous. Last year the SIU closed about 1,000 investigations, resulting in a claims savings of about $14 million. No. 1 “Phony Kidnapping” After her badly damaged vehicle was recovered by police, the Winnipeg woman told MPI her vehicle had been stolen out of her garage. She said the thieves messaged her via Facebook, demanding payment for returning the car. The woman admitted she did not call police, but agreed to meet the thieves, who she stated then kidnapped her, speeding around the city for hours and eventually crashing the vehicle. Due to many gaps in the story, MPI’s SIU launched an investigation. An examination of the vehicle’s ignition and immobilizer system conducted by MPI’s Research and Training Department revealed that the vehicle would not run without a key inserted into the ignition. In her statement the owner confirmed that she had all keys in her possession. When presented with the findings of the investigation, the vehicle owner admitted she had lied about the kidnapping. Truth was, she was in the vehicle driving around with a group of “friends” drinking and speeding around the city. They eventually crashed into another vehicle and immediately ran from the scene. The theft claim was denied, saving MPI an estimated $68,000. No. 2 “The Fast & Furious” The 20-year-old driver told the MPI adjuster that he had been working a lot of overtime during the week and one night while driving home around midnight fell asleep and drove off the road, crashing into half a dozen parked vehicles. The posted speed limit on the road was 50 KM, with the young driver saying he was travelling 55 KM/H at the time of the crash. However, the extent of the on-site damage contradicted the man’s story. A download of the vehicle’s Data Crash Recorder indicated the vehicle was travelling at nearly 140 KM/H at time of impact. The brake pedal was not applied and seatbelts were unbuckled. Surveillance footage was also taken from various locations on the travelled road, showing the vehicle was racing with another vehicle seconds before the crash. There was also an on-site investigation which confirmed there was a long, straight 1.6 km stretch of road where the racing took place. The road then makes a left curve which the one vehicle was unable to negotiate, causing it to leave the road and crash heavily into a number of parked vehicles. Based on the true facts of this investigation, the collision claim was denied and MPI has begun a recovery of costs from the responsible driver. Cost savings to MPI estimated to be $150,000. No. 3: “Truckin’ Along” A professional truck driver, the Winnipeg man was injured in a single-vehicle incident while hauling a load. Based on the extent of his injuries, he was entitled to receive Income Replacement Benefits and Personal Care Assistance payments. He told his MPI case manager that his injuries prevented him from lifting his arms above his shoulders, unable to lift heavy objects, physically unable to drive more than 15 minutes, could no longer take out the garbage and recycling bins, or work his regular job. After receiving information that the man was working while still collecting benefits, an investigation was opened, consisting of surveillance which conclusively showed the man was working, able to drive many hours a day and was seen carrying a number of objects, including heavy wooden crates. Based on the investigation, MPI contacted the man and informed him his benefits were being terminated. He was also charged with Fraud Over $5,000 and Make False Statement. Estimated savings to MPI was more than $700,000. No. 4 “Centre Stage” Two individuals opened separate collision claims, with one driver admitting he was responsible for the T-Bone collision at an intersection. The SIU investigator attended to the collision scene and noticed a surveillance camera pointed in the direction of the collision intersection. The surveillance clearly showed both vehicles slowly travelling through the intersection several times prior to the collision. The surveillance also showed both vehicles were deliberately positioned in a T-Bone configuration, with one car accelerating into the other vehicle which was slowly entering the intersection. When presented with the facts, one owner admitted he and his friend planned this “staged” collision to write-off their vehicles. Savings to MPI was $15,297.46. No. 5 “Canine Caper” The Winnipeg woman opened a collision claim, stating a dog ran onto the roadway, causing her to swerve and collide with a pole and large flower pot located on the yard of a private residence. There was significant damage to both the woman’s 2020 Ford Explorer and items in the yard. The woman also provided the name of a third-party witness, who told the MPI adjuster that the vehicle did swerve to avoid a dog and the woman was driving. Based on statements received, MPI determined the driver was not at fault, resulting in no financial compensation from MPI to the owners of the property. When told of this decision, the owners of the property then provided MPI with video footage of the collision which clearly showed there was no dog running across the road, and the driver of the vehicle was a male. When presented with this new information, the woman admitted to lying to protect her boyfriend who was driving and did not hold a valid driver’s licence. The witness would later admit they had come across the crash after the fact, and did not see a dog. The collision claim was denied and MPI is seeking to recover costs from the unlicensed driver. Claims savings to MPI was $29,840.08.

The recent Province of Manitoba's updated public health orders, further restricting the capacity of indoor events to 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people per event, has forced the postponement of the upcoming (January 18th - 20th) Manitoba Ag Days. The announcement was made this morning on their Twitter page. The Board of Directors and Management Team "is currently working with the host facility and service providers to come up with alternate dates."

The Manitoba government is updating public health orders to reduce the gatherings sizes and put limitations on the sale of liquor to help curb community transmission and protect the capacity of the health-care system as the omicron variant continues to circulate in Manitoba, Premier Heather Stefanson and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, announced today. “Over the last week, case numbers have increased sharply, and we must again take steps to reduce the spread of the virus to help protect Manitoba’s health-care system,” said Stefanson. “As we approach the new year – a time that is usually filled with celebration – we are urging Manitobans to limit your close contacts at this crucial time in our fight against COVID-19. We all have a role to play, and we encourage everyone get fully vaccinated, including a third dose when eligible, follow the public health orders and focus on the fundamentals.” The additional restrictions mean gatherings must not exceed 50 per cent of the usual capacity of the space, or 250 people, whichever is less. This includes: •    indoor and outdoor public gatherings; •    restaurants, licensed premises, food courts and socials; •    movie theatre and concert halls; •    performing arts venues and outdoor ticketed performing arts events; •    museums and art galleries; •    outdoor and indoor sporting and recreational facilities including dance schools and martial arts studios; •    gyms, fitness centres and yoga studios; •    indoor and outdoor ticketed sporting events; •    indoor recreational businesses; •    seasonal facilities and events; •    religious services and Indigenous cultural events; and •    bingos, casinos and businesses with VLTs. The changes will affect capacity limits at these locations including gatherings where all attendees are fully vaccinated, have a medical reason not to receive a vaccine or people under 12 years of age. In addition, liquor sales in restaurants and licensed premises must end at 10 p.m. daily. The changes will come into effect on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 12:01 a.m. and will expire on Jan. 11, 2022. “We know these changes will affect the plans of many people, but we must put them in place now to reduce the possible spread of the virus over the rest of the holiday season,” said Roussin. “Thousands of Manitobans have been vaccinated and continue follow the public health orders and we thank you for that, but these changes are necessary right now to reduce the risk of severe illness and to support our health-care system.” The updated orders keep the Pandemic Response System at restricted (Orange) with schools at caution (Yellow). All other public health orders remain unchanged. For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit https://gov.mb.ca/covid19. (Province of MB News Release)

To manage current and growing demand for COVID-19 testing the Manitoba government is making take-home, self-administered rapid tests available at provincial testing sites to Manitobans as well as other vulnerable Manitobans, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced today. “The centralized use of rapid test kits is necessary to manage the supply we have in stock,” said Gordon. “Making take-home, self-administered rapid tests available to symptomatic Manitobans who seek a COVID-19 test will help manage the potential demand of tests when the omicron variant of concern becomes more prominent.” When an individual visits a testing site, the type of test they receive will now be based on their vaccination status. if they are symptomatic and vaccinated, they will receive a take-home, self-administered rapid test; additionally, a random number of fully vaccinated people will be selected for a PCR test as a control measure. if they are symptomatic and unvaccinated, they will receive a PCR test; and if they are a symptomatic, high-risk and unvaccinated, they may receive a PCR test and a take-home, self-administered rapid test and may be referred for monoclonal antibody treatment. If the rapid test comes back positive, the individual will be advised to return for a PCR test to confirm the result, which is when the positive test result would be reported publicly. For those who test positive on follow-up PCR test, the individual will be contacted by a public health official who will provide information about isolation and also help determine if the individual meets the criterial for monoclonal antibodies treatment. While not a substitute for vaccination, monoclonal antibody treatment can help reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 in those that are high risk for severe illness. The treatment gives the body temporary antibodies to help the immune system fight the infection. Early testing is important, as the treatment is only effective in the early phase of infection. To learn more, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/covid19/treatment/index.html. The minister noted the rapid testing changes will be introduced incrementally at testing locations throughout the province. Current locations implementing the rapid testing changes include: drive-thru testing site, 1066 Nairn Ave., Winnipeg drive-thru testing site at MPI, 125 King Edward St., Winnipeg walk-in testing site, 1 Research Rd., Winnipeg testing site, 100 Easton Dr., Selkirk Gordon also noted that to further help prioritize testing, Manitobans who are seeking a COVID-19 test for out-of-province travel purposes should not attend provincial testing sites. Rather, they should seek out a private provider. In addition to making rapid test kits available at provincial testing sites, test kits will be provided at 20 Manitoba Families social services offices across the province. More than 15,000 test kits with three tests each will be distributed to regular clients starting later this week. An additional 1,764 kits will be provided directly to Community Living Disability Services clients in living independently with supports. Nearly 400 kits with three tests each will be provided per month to staff at child and family service agencies for use when visiting vulnerable children and clients. Manitoba continues to distribute rapid testing kits and has increased the availability and access to rapid tests for employers through an agreement with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. At this time, more than 500,000 rapid tests are being provided to workplaces each month. Rapid antigen tests are also being distributed to families with students in kindergarten to Grade 6 in provincial schools, as well as schools in First Nations communities. (Province of MB News Release)