Shaming COVID-19 rule-breakers for spike unwise and disingenuous of Manitoba premier, critics say

A blunt message from Brian Pallisterto those breaking public health orders is "disingenuous" and "disappointing,"some experts say, after the premier issued the rebuke amid a worsening COVID-19 outlook in Manitoba.

"Instead of showing us the leadership that we need to see, he's instead turning to shaming Manitobans," said Kelly Saunders, associate professor of political science at Brandon University, calling it"highly disappointing and I think very irresponsible."

On Monday, a month intoa series of tighteningpandemic restrictionsin Winnipegand surrounding communities, Pallister and Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin tookmore stern tacks when addressing the public.

"Thoughtful Manitobans are making sacrifices, tough sacrifices while other people are doing dumb things, and those dumb things are endangering all of us," Pallister said Monday.

People with high numbers of close contacts and those who aren't following health guidelines are contributing to the COVID-19 records that are being broken nearly every day lately, they said.

Roussingavedetailsabout specific cases Monday, something he hasn't done previously.

A person who tested positive then hosted an in-home gathering, exposing many people, he said, and another went to workevery day for a week while symptomatic.

WATCH | Dr. Brent Roussin issues a stern warning as cases surge:

'We let this virus off the hook': Manitoba's top doctor issues stern warning

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Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin detailed numerous accounts of symptomatic people knowingly exposing others recently in Manitoba in a lengthy and stern address to the public on Monday.

In another of several examples, Roussin said a surgical patient who was a close contact of a positive case went in for a medical procedure anyway,resultingin dozens of health-care workers being forced to self-isolate.

'Government can't protect you'

Pallister said he takes responsibility "for any negatives that happen here." He also reprimanded people not taking care to limit the spread while suggesting Public Health and the province aren't solely responsible.

"Grow up. Stop going out there and giving people COVID," he said.

"A government can't protect you from this virus, you have to protect each other, and that's our obligation as friends, as family members, as citizens of this beautiful province. This is an obligation we share."

Saunders said those comments show the premier "abrogating responsibility."

She cited pastcomments from Manitoba's health and education ministers,about things like mask use and vaccination, as examples of where Pallister could be doing more behind the scenes to ensure consistent public safety messaging is coming from his administration.

'Very disingenuous'

Michelle Driedger said she understands Roussin'sfrustrations.She disagrees with Pallister's approach.

"It's very disingenuous to say the government can't protect you from this," said Driedger, a professor in community health sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Driedger, whose research includes public health risk communication, said governments have an obligation to ensure people have credible, accessible information and recommendations that they can work with.

Some of the cases characterized as dumbby Pallistermight not just be a product ofpoor judgment, she said.

Theprovince hasn't adequatelysupported all Manitobans who aren't financially able to stay home or isolate while waiting for test results, and that could be why some people with symptoms are taking risks and going to work, Driedger said.

The person who failed to disclose a close contact before heading in for a medical procedure could've done so fearing they might go back on a wait list for months or years, she said.

At least part of the recent spike is tied to Thanksgiving, Roussin said.A rule banning gatherings of more than 10 people was in effect that weekend, but the occupants of a hosting household didn't count toward that total, making larger gatherings possible.

Driedger pointed out that the provincial government pushed an economic agenda, launching its Restart Manitoba Campaign on the heels of a weeks-long stretch of few to no active cases this summer. Business, bars and restaurants saw restrictions relaxed.

"When you're told on the one hand, go support your local businesses, go do these things we have to get the economy going, you've got very competing messages that are happening about whether it really is advisable," Driedger said.

"It sends the message that now you can gather with other people and we are naturally social beings."

'Lock things down'

Meanwhile, Dr. Anand Kumar approves of the admonishments from Pallister and stern warnings from Roussin, but he doesn't think they're going to make much difference.

The Health Sciences Centre intensive care unit physician also isn't sure the tone will help.

"I am in complete agreement with both of them that people are doing some really dumb stuff," said Kumar, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine and microbiology at the U of M.

"Having said that, the idea that we're going to be able to talk people into behaving substantially better, I think, is extremely misguided."

Kumar described the current approach of Public Health and the province as a targeted escalating strategy: monitor for hot spots, heighten local restrictions where needed, expand to other regions if necessary, remove restrictionsas things improve.

The utility of a similar strategy employed around the world is waning due to how "catastrophic" the illness is, he said.

It's time for a de-escalation approach, said Kumar, usingall available preventative measuresto"hammer [COVID-19] until you get down to a minuscule level,and then you start to back off on the interventions."

Manitoba already did this once. It looks a lot like the mass closures of the spring.

"There are political considerations in this kind of thing, there's a big economic hit, etc., but I really think that at this point, using an escalation strategy, you're always going to be behind," he said.

"If we lock things down now, maybe we get things under control."