Manitoba says it is delaying an end to a practice that allows hospitals to notify child-welfare agencies about new mothers who are deemed to be high risk.
Families Minister Heather Stefanson says the province is intent on responding to the spread of COVID-19 and now is not the time to implement a broad change.
She says in an email that ending birth alerts would put additional pressure on the health-care system.
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READ MORE: Manitoba to end birth alerts: families minister
Provincial statistics show newborn apprehensions occur, on average, once a day in Manitoba.
There are about 10,000 children in care in the province and about 90 per cent are Indigenous.
Stefanson announced the phaseout of birth alerts by April 1 earlier this year.
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