There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Manitoba Monday.
That means the province’s total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable cases remain at 281.
Health officials said five people were currently in hospital Monday, with no one in intensive care.
A total of 238 people have recovered while 37 people have active cases.
The number of people who have died remains six.
The total number of tests performed since early February is 27,446, with 642 done Sunday, said Manitoba’s chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin at a Monday afternoon press conference.
‘We can’t let our guards down’
Monday’s press conference comes as the province eases some of the restrictions in place during the pandemic, allowing some non-essential businesses to re-open as of Monday.
Roussin warned the loosening of restrictions is not a “return to normal.”
“We can’t let our guards down at this point, we need to continue the very important activities of washing our hands frequently, maintaining physical distancing … and what’s going to be … vital moving forward: individuals that are experiencing symptoms — people who are ill — need to stay home,” he said Monday.
“This is a gradual and cautious re-opening of the economy with very stringent restrictions at first to continue our limitation of the transmission of this virus.”
The province says all Manitobans returning to work are eligible to access the temporary child-care system set up through the pandemic to help find an open spot.
Anyone looking for a spot can check the province’s website and then contact centres directly.
Under current provincial guidelines licensed child-care centres can take up to 16 children per centre, and larger centres with separate rooms and external entrances can take up to 16 children per room.
Home-based child-care providers can provide care for up to eight children.
Negative test results now online
The province has also launched a resource for Manitobans who have been tested for COVID-19 to access their negative tests online.
Starting Monday those being tested will be given details about how to register to access the information through the new provincial website.
“It is our goal that this initiative will allow Manitobans to have faster access to negative results and we also hope that it will relieve some of the stress and anxiety of anyone who’s been tested,” said Lanette Siragusa of Shared Health.
A Manitoba Health card is required to register, and those without a Manitoba Health Card or internet access can get their results by calling 1-844-960-1984 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Manitobans who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be contacted directly by health officials.
Last week the province opened testing to include all Manitobans with symptoms of COVID-19.
Even those with mild symptoms, including a cough, runny nose, sore throat and/or fever, can be tested to better track the spread of the virus, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said.
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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