By Matthew Dekker Apr 19, 2021 12:34 PM New public health orders are being introduced this week to slow the spread of variants of concern and protect Manitobans and the health-care system against the third wave, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, announced today. “Despite our best collective efforts and having some of the strictest measures in the country, COVID-19 cases and particularly variants of concern are on the rise,” said Pallister. “Introducing more restrictive measures is not what many of us want to hear right now, but it’s what we need to do to protect Manitobans and our health-care system. It is our goal that by acting quickly now, we can slow the speed of the third wave avoid a return to full shutdown in many sectors throughout our province.”