This year has brought a variety of challenges to Manitobans. The pandemic has placed many hardships on individuals, families, communities and businesses. This past spring, Manitobans stepped up to the challenge of COVID-19 and flattened the curve, but as we are now seeing an increase in active cases, we are all reminded that this virus is not done with us. We need to remain vigilant to ensure our case numbers remain manageable.
This fall, as we prepare for an increase in influenza and other respiratory viruses, alongside COVID-19, we know our lives will look much different. In order to reduce the impact of respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, we will need all Manitobans to continue following our fundamental approaches by doing things such as staying home when ill, practising frequent hand hygiene, coughing into elbows, practising physical distancing and wearing masks in indoor public places. In addition, all Manitobans should ensure they are up to date on all the vaccines they are eligible for, and that includes getting the flu shot this fall.
Immunization against the flu has been shown to reduce the number of physician visits, hospitalizations and deaths, particularly among those who are at increased risk of serious illness from the flu. Immunization is the best way to protect you, your children, and those around you at risk of serious or even fatal effects of the flu. The flu vaccine does not protect against other viral or bacterial infections, including illnesses like the common cold, stomach flus, or other respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19. However, getting the flu vaccine could reduce the number of people getting sick and requiring medical treatment in hospital, which could put extra pressure on the health care system in the fall and winter months.
Vital in our response to respiratory virus season will be that Manitobans stay home when they are ill. For many individuals, families and employers this represents a dramatic change. Many of us have tried to persevere through a respiratory illness at work or have sent our children to school while ill. This practice cannot take place in our “new normal.” Individuals, families and employers should work together and begin planning now for increases in absenteeism.
For individuals and families these plans should consider how they or a member of their family could self-isolate for up to fourteen days should they be identified as a contact of someone who has COVID-19 or become ill themselves. Consider plans for the care of children required to stay home from school if they get sick.
Employers will want to reduce the risk of clusters of respiratory illness in the workplace by reducing crowding and encouraging employees to stay home from work when ill. This may mean removing the need for sick notes, loosening of sick leave policies or adding options for working remotely.
Living with the risk of COVID-19 is a change in mindset for all of us. We all take risks in our lives each and every day, the key is to take precautions to minimize those risks. In addition to practicing the fundamentals of staying home when ill, hand hygiene and physical distancing, wearing a non-medical mask in indoor public places is strongly recommended. Wearing a mask does not replace physical distancing, but is an additional step Manitobans can take to protect each other.
Wearing a reusable non-medical mask does not protect the person wearing the mask, but may help protect the people around them. In situations where maintaining consistent physical distancing is challenging, such as on public transit, in crowded stores or other public settings, the use of masks is another tool that may help to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others.
Now is the time for Manitobans to again step up to the challenge and make a consistent effort to practise the fundamentals — hand hygiene, physical distancing and vaccinations. Perhaps the largest change for many of us will be the need to stay home when we are sick. For this change, in particular, we all need to begin planning now for the inevitable respiratory virus season that is approaching. The steps we take individually and collectively going forward will determine our success in managing COVID-19.
Manitobans stepped up to the challenge of COVID-19 and we will continue to do so as we learn to live in our new normal. We truly are in this together.
Dr. Brent Roussin is Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer.
