WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is expanding its mask rules on school buses as students prepare to return to class next week.

 

The government says all students, drivers and any other passengers on school buses will be required to wear masks.

 

Originally, the province was planning to require mask use on school buses only for grades 4 and up.

 

Health officials are reporting 18 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total 1,232.

 

Two of the new cases are residents of a long-term care section at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, where another resident and two workers had earlier tested positive.

 

With more people recovering, the number of active cases across Manitoba has dropped slightly to 459.