Four new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Manitoba on Monday, April 12, 2020, bringing the total number to 246.

Eight people are currently hospitalized with four of those in intensive care.

99 people have recovered from the virus according to health officials.

The total number of fatalities related to COVID-19 remains at four in the province.

32 tests were performed on Sunday at Cadham Provincial Laboratory bringing the total number of test performed since early February to 17,245.

Manitoba Chief Provincial Public Health Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin has extended the public health orders for an additional two weeks.

• Public gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. This does not apply to a facility where health-care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters.
• All restaurants and other commercial facilities that serve food are prohibited from serving food to customers in their premises. This prevents eat-in dining at all facilities. However, restaurants and other commercial facilities can prepare and serve food for delivery or takeout. If this takes place, the operator of the restaurant must ensure that all people maintain the appropriate social distancing from other customers when picking up food. 
• All businesses that are not listed in the schedule of critical services that accompanies the order must remain closed. 
•  This closure order does not prevent these businesses from operating on a remote basis.
• A business may accept orders on the Internet, or over the phone for delivery or pickup, as long as the employees are not working at the place of business. 
• The order does not prevent employees or others from coming into the business to perform repairs, to provide security services or to take out items from the business premises if the business is going to operate on a remote basis.
• Nothing in the order restricts the operations of delivery of services by the federal or provincial governments or a municipality. 
• Nothing in the order restricts any activities of a publicly funded agency, organization or authority that delivers or supports government operations or services, including health-care services. This means the order does not affect institutions, agencies and other service providers who provide health-care services such as hospitals, regional health authorities and private agencies who provide a range of health services.

Dr. Roussin once again reminded Manitobans to not to interpret current case numbers to mean the risk of COVID-19 is reduced. Social distancing should continue to be practiced.

“Stay home as much as you can,” said Roussin.

© News4.ca 2020