Only one new case has been identified overnight in Manitoba.
As of Monday morning, Manitoba had 204 cases in the province. Eleven Manitobans were in hospital with seven in intensive care, and 17 have recovered from the virus.
Two people have died.
Dr. Brent Roussin, the province’s chief medical health officer, said after listening to Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam, people can consider wearing masks to protect others.
“Please do not let this distract from the main message,” said Roussin, “and that is to stay home.”
Medical masks should be in the hands of health care professionals, he added.
This means Easter dinner this weekend should not be happening, he added.
Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 458 tests Sunday. As of April 6, a total of 13,476 tests have been performed.
Lanette Siragusa of Shared Health gave some updates from questions on the weekend, including staff who are late because of the new screening process, will be paid for their full shift.
She also said medical personnel who have been moved from their usual site to a different site will see their parking compensated.
Asked about enforcement of social distancing rules, Roussin said other measures like fines are not off the table and may be used in the future if Manitobans put others in danger.
Federal money
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister once again pleaded for the federal government to be an intermediary to help provinces borrow money at a lower interest rate.
“We are the most indebted province in Canada,” he said Monday.
“The burden our children and grandchildren are about to inherit is about to grow.”
The federal government’s credit rating means it can borrow at a lower rate than the provinces. This would save Canadians billions of dollars annually that could be better spent supporting health care and the most vulnerable Canadians, said Pallister.
Pallister first floated the idea at the end of March.
“Manitoba’s about to take on, as are all the other provinces, some new debt. Call this Manitoba’s second pandemic mortgage.”
Pallister said the province worked hard to build it up its rainy day fund, but it will dry up.
He said a lower interest rate would save Manitobans over $1 billion in interest over a decade.
Read the letter:
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
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.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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