Manitoba Liquor Mart employees to start wearing masks amid coronavirus

Employees at Liquor Marts across Manitoba will start wearing face masks while at work this week.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries says employees will be required to wear to help stem the spread of novel coronavirus as of Thursday.

“Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is committed to doing what we can to protect the health of our employees and customers,” an MLL spokesperson said in an email.

“We have, and will, continue to evolve, expand and implement these types of initiatives as new information about COVID-19 preventative best practices becomes available.

1:49 Manitoba’s top doctor hints at mandatory masks

“The shift to mandatory masks is an example of one such measure.”

Provincial health officials have yet to make mask wearing mandatory in Manitoba, but Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, has recommended them when physical distancing isn’t possible, especially in indoor spaces.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries has already made mask wearing mandatory for all employees working in its Winnipeg casinos.

Casinos reopened late last month under the province’s latest phase of loosened health restrictions.

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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.