On Wednesday April 1, 2020, Manitoba Public Health announced that there are 24 new cases of COVID-19 in the province. This brings the total number of cases of confirmed and probable COVid-19 to 127.

To date the total number of deaths related to the pandemic in Manitoba remains at one.

Four people are hospitalized with three of those in intensive care

The number of people who have recovered is four.

Dr. Brent Roussin said that there have been cases identified in health care workers at St. Boniface Hospital and Grace General Hospital.

“Public Health investigations are continuing and any close contacts will be contacted directly by public health,” said Roussin.

Roussin said that public health officials are beginning to see early signs of community transmission in Winnipeg.

“We knew to expect this as more and more cases are introduced into a jurisdiction community transmission is going to be inevitable,” Roussin said.

New screening procedures has been implemented in acute and long-term care facilities effective today. All staff will have their temperatures taken at the beginning at their shifts. They will also be questioned about their symptoms, travel history and their exposure to positive COVID-19 cases.

Effective today all non-critical business were ordered to close. Dr. Roussin clarified the orders today to ensure better understanding how non critical businesses can continue to operate.

All non-exempt businesses may:

• continue to operate where customers can order goods online or by telephone; however, customers cannot attend the businesses’ premises or property to order goods;
• continue to sell goods to customers where those goods can be picked up ‘curbside’ or delivered to customers; however, customers cannot pick up goods at businesses’ premises or on its property;
• allow staff to attend the businesses’ premises, without a limitation on the number of staff, as long as staff take measures to keep social distancing of one to two metres apart from each other; and
• accept delivery of goods and may allow services, such as construction, repairs, maintenance and cleaning to occur at their premises and on their property

Manitoba Justice will be placing all individuals coming into custody into isolation for 14 days to help reduce transmission of COVID-19 in jails.

All in-person visits for people in Manitoba’s adult and youth correctional centres have been suspended.

Manitoba Public Health continues to advise people to stay within or close to their communities. Travel in Manitoba should be limited to essential trips only. Going to a cottage or seasonal camp is not advised due to the increased demands that could fall on smaller health centres if seasonal visitors become sick.

© News4.ca 2020