Steinbach residents mixed over whether regional restrictions targeting unvaccinated will work

Some people in Steinbach are mixed about pandemic restrictions meant to target the unvaccinated amid disproportionately high case loads and hospitalizations emerging from the Southern Health region.

The hope is the restrictions nudge more people like Mark Stahl to get vaccinated. 

The Steinbach electrician says some of the younger guys he works with have rolled up their sleeves out of convenience, since they want to be able to go to bars and restaurants again.

Stahl remains defiant and suspicious.

"They want to give you all kinds of gifts and benefits that are unreal to try to lure you to take something," he said in Steinbach, hours after the rules were announced on Friday. 

"If it was as good as they say it is, then people would want it. So, no, I don't want it. I have no fear of the virus. I have no fear of COVID."

At an uptake rate of 65.9 per cent, Southern Health has the lowest immunization uptake of Manitoba's five health regions. Rates in the Steinbach health district in particular were 64.5 per cent on Friday, and 50 per cent in nearby Hanover health district. That has influenced the latest public health orders.