WINNIPEG — Manitoba's chief public health officer says new statistics from hospitals show COVID-19 vaccines are working.

Dr. Brent Roussin says COVID-related hospitalizations dropped by 45 per cent between May and June.

He says 74 per cent of people admitted to hospital in June had not received a vaccine shot, and another 22 per cent had received one dose but had tested positive less than two weeks later.

Manitoba has exceeded its vaccination targets in recent weeks and 76 per cent of people aged 12 and up have now received at least one dose.

The province is planning to further ease public health orders, but Roussin says details have not yet been worked out.

The province is reporting 31 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death.

"Where we are right now with the vaccine uptake, Manitobans have put us in a spot now that we're going to be starting to loosen these restrictions," Roussin said Monday.

The current public health orders forbid most indoor social gatherings and cap outdoor gatherings at 25 people. Casinos, theatres and concert halls remain closed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2021.

The Canadian Press