As most of the province receives its first and second COVID-19 vaccines, many are wondering what is safe for them to do.

Manitobans are living in a vaccinated world, but what does that world look like? While this is still uncertain, some changes are coming this weekend to Manitoba's Public Health Orders in response to high vaccine uptake and lowering case counts.

"When people get vaccinated, the community transmission is reduced. It protects the individual, protects the people around them, and the people they love and they care about to help us get back to days like this, where we start loosening the restrictions," Dr. Brent Roussin says in a Wednesday press conference.

With more than a quarter of all Manitobans 12-years-old and older receiving two vaccines, many are looking for post-vaccine guidance. There is no official guidance yet for returning to things such as shaking hands or sharing food, but that is coming.

 

Can I hug people?

Roussin says there is a national council working on guidance for pre-pandemic actives, such as hugging fully vaccinated people outside.

"You're describing a very safe event where you're outdoors, you're with fully vaccinated people, and you know we would ensure of course that none of those fully vaccinated people are symptomatic, but yes so this is this is a lower risk situation... what you described there is quite safe," Roussin says.

After a year and a half of limiting interactions, many are unsure of what is safe to do when fully vaccinated.

"We're going to have some more specific guidance on people like that."

 

What about restrictions for children younger than 12?

Children under the age of 12 cannot get the COVID-19 vaccine.

"They will follow their parent's vaccine status. If both parents that they are travelling with or both parents that are attending a restaurant are fully vaccinated those under 12 would meet that (restriction)."

If aged 12-17, they will need to follow the health orders under their own vaccine status.

 

Social gatherings

For a short while in Manitoba, those who are fully vaccinated will have additional abilities including indoor dining and visiting care homes when all parties are fully vaccinated.

In the health orders, there will be an allowance for fully-vaccinated people to attend large events such as professional sporting games and concerts. More information on this will come next week from Premier Brian Pallister