Public health officials advise 40 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified as of 9:30 a.m., bringing the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 167 at this time.
The data also shows:
• five individuals are currently hospitalized including four in intensive care,
• 11 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and
• the total number of deaths reported in Manitoba remains at one.
Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 1,300 tests Wednesday. As of April 2, a total of 11,327 tests have been performed.
Three additional staff across two Manitoba health-care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmed cases, at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg and Betel Home Gimli are being investigated by public health, occupational health and infection prevention and control officials. All affected health-care workers are being provided with appropriate direction related to self-isolation or self-monitoring, depending on their exposure.
As a result of the positive COVID-19 case at Betel Home in Gimli, public health officials are also investigating a respiratory illness outbreak among residents there. Nine residents showing symptoms of respiratory illness are being tested for the cause of their illnesses. This will include testing for COVID-19. The home has implemented additional infection prevention and control measures to isolate affected patients.
A change in protocol will soon require health-care workers working in patient care roles at facilities, including at hospitals, long-term care facilities, health centres, nursing stations, Access Centres and COVID-19 testing locations, to expand their use of procedure masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE). These changes will be implemented over the coming days at sites across the province. Manitoba’s provincial COVID-19 central supply chain management is working with regions and facilities to identify and ship appropriate PPE.
New screening procedures are being implemented for staff working in acute and long-term care facilities. Implementation of these measures has begun and will involve asking staff about travel history, exposure to COVID-19 positive cases, any symptoms they may have and having their temperature taken at the start of their shift. Staff who are required to come and go during the course of their shift may be re-screened upon re-entry into facilities and service areas.
Public health is also advising that people remain within or close to their home communities. This includes limiting travel, even within Manitoba, to essential trips only. Services at smaller health centres could be strained if seasonal visitors become ill.
As Manitoba’s health system continues with preparations to ensure it is prepared to meet the needs of patients and to ensure appropriate protection from COVID-19 is available to health-care workers, donations of the following supplies are now welcome:
• N95 respirators of various models and sizes, both hospital and industrial grade;
• surgical/procedure masks;
• gloves;
• disposable gowns; and
• disinfectants and cleaners.
Supplies must be in original packaging, clean and in useable condition. Expired supplies will not be accepted.
For more information on donating supplies, visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/supply-donations/ or call (toll-free) 1-833-408-0101.
In order to meet continued demands of Winnipeggers for COVID-19 screening, a second community testing drive-thru site will open tomorrow at the Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) Main Street service centre, 1284 Main St. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Other Winnipeg locations include:
• Mount Carmel Clinic, 886 Main St.,
• Access Winnipeg West, 280 Booth Dr., and
• MPI’s Bison Drive Service Centre, 15 Barnes St.
The new Main Street location will allow testing sites at Access Transcona and Access Fort Garry to stop operating as testing sites tomorrow and return to their mandate of providing primary and episodic care to patients. The public is reminded that a referral to these testing sites is needed and they are not walk-in clinics. Information on locations and hours of operation throughout Manitoba is available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/locations.html.
Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required.
For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit:
www.manitoba.ca/covid19.