Man from southern Manitoba province’s latest coronavirus case: health officials

Manitoba health officials reported one new case of COVID-19 Thursday.

The latest case, a man in his 30s from southern Manitoba, brings Manitoba’s total of probable and positive cases of the virus reported since March to 331.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, said additional information will be provided on any public health risks, once investigations into the cases are completed.

Health officials reported no new cases Wednesday after five new cases were identified Tuesday.

The five cases on Tuesday were the first new cases reported in Manitoba since the end of June.

Roussin said Thursday one of the cases reported Tuesday was a result of community transmission, and three were either tied to travel or due to close personal contact with a positive case.

He said the fifth case is still under investigation, but is likely linked to travel as well.

Health officials have previously said one of the cases announced Tuesday was a passenger on a flight from Winnipeg to Calgary June 27 and a flight back to Winnipeg from Calgary July 2.

The flight to Calgary was WestJet flight 261 and the returning flight was WestJet flight 526.

As of Thursday, Manitoba had six active cases and 318 people listed as recovered from COVID-19, according to provincial health officials.

The number of people who have died in the province due to the coronavirus remains at seven.

Health officials say there’s currently no one in hospital or intensive care with COVID-19.

Roussin said 734 tests for COVID-19 were done Wednesday, bringing the province’s total number of tests completed for the virus since early February to 73,042.

Roussin also said Thursday the province’s life-jacket loaner program has been reinstated at 11 provincial parks, telling reporters the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower than the risk of drowning if someone needs a life jacket.

The province is still encouraging park visitors to bring their own life jackets to provincial parks.

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Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.

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