Editor’s Note: The story below has been updated to reflect the dates of when shoppers may have been exposed to COVID-19. A previous version stated incorrect dates, which have been revised by public health officials.
Health officials say six new cases of novel coronavirus have been identified in Manitoba.
The new cases reported Monday, as well as 10 reported over the weekend, bring the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 400.
Of the 16 new cases reported over the weekend and Monday, health officials say four cases are in southern Manitoba, four are in the east Interlake, four are in Winnipeg, and four are from the Prairie Mountain Health region.
As of Monday there are 74 known active cases and 319 people are reported to have recovered from the virus. Health officials say three people are hospitalized with COVID-19, including two in intensive care.
Potential exposure warning
Health officials also warned about a possible exposure to COVID-19 at a grocery store in Gull Lake, Man.
They say a person who has since tested positive for the virus went to the Sherwood Grocery Store in the community, roughly 73 km northeast of Winnipeg, on July 20, 21 while symptomatic.
Public health officials had originally said Monday the person had also been at the store July 19, as well, but revised the dates Tuesday.
“Individuals may be contagious up to two days before symptoms appear,” a government spokesperson said Tuesday.
“Symptoms appeared in the positive COVID-19 case on July 21 and risk to the public is low.”
Close contacts to the case will be notified, the province says, but anyone who was in the store during those days should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested should they develop.
The cases come as the province further loosened restrictions imposed to stem the virus’s spread Saturday.
Under the new rules casinos, cinemas and theatres can open, but at 30 per cent capacity.
Previously considered plans to lift the 14-day self-isolation requirement for travellers arriving from Eastern Canada and increase limits on public gatherings — to 75 people from 50 indoors and to 250 from 100 outdoors — were taken off the table for now after concerns were raised by Manitobans.
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.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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