Manitoba offers employee training subsidy as COVID 19 numbers rise again

The Manitoba government is offering a new subsidy for businesses and non-profit groups who need to train employees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Employers can get up to $2,500 per employee, to a maximum of $75,000, for any training course offered by a third-party.

Jobs Minister Jon Reyes said the money will help businesses that have had to adapt to the pandemic’s realities.

The program is being run along with Economic Development Winnipeg and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

0:57 Hospital prepare as COVID-19 cases climb again

Meanwhile, the province’s COVID-19 numbers are rising.

Health officials are reporting 494 new cases and six deaths over the last three days.

The number of people in hospital as a result of COVID-19 rose to 141 Monday, up from 118 reported Friday.

The five-day test positivity rate is 5.4 per cent across Manitoba and 2.7 per cent in Winnipeg.

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, visit our coronavirus page.