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Coronavirus: Manitoba cases up to 7, says province’s top doc

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus outbreak: Manitoba chief public health officer announces three new presumptive cases of COVID-19'
Coronavirus outbreak: Manitoba chief public health officer announces three new presumptive cases of COVID-19
WATCH: Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced on Sunday that officials had confirmed three new presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the province, bringing the total number of presumptive and confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Manitoba to seven – Mar 15, 2020

Seven people have been diagnosed with presumptive or confirmed COVID-19 in Manitoba, health officials said Sunday.

Three more presumptive cases were identified Sunday, including one person in the Interlake.

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus outbreak: All Manitobans ‘strongly advised’ against international travel amid COVID-19 spread, public health official says'
Coronavirus outbreak: All Manitobans ‘strongly advised’ against international travel amid COVID-19 spread, public health official says

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“Case five is a man in his 70s.  Case six is a woman in her 70s and at this time, it appears this woman was exposed to the virus through recent travel.  Case seven is a woman in her 50s.  Patient contact and public health investigations are ongoing,” said the province in their latest bulletin.

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All three people had recently travelled internationally, Manitoba Health said late in the afternoon Sunday.

Health officials note they intend to update the public on the exact locations of the cases when their investigations are completed.

Those investigations include speaking with people the patients have been in contact with since contracting the virus.

People do not need to be tested unless they have travelled internationally and have COVID-19 symptoms, or have symptoms and have spent time in close contact with someone who travelled, according to health officials.

“We know that in times like this, fear is also contagious,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial health officer Sunday. However, he said he discourages panic buying or hoarding of supplies.

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The latest bulletin from the province:

The province will also open another access centre in Thompson Monday and plans to open more in rural and northern communities this week.

Healthlinks has received more than 1,000 calls.

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

Health officials say the risk for Canadians is low.

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.

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To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent hand washing and coughing into your sleeve — if you get sick, stay at home.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

— with files from Elisha Dacey and Malika Karim

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