As Manitoba announced another death related to COVID-19, a third of the province’s MLAs were inside the legislature, working to pass legislation while social distancing.
The death announced April 15 was a woman in her 60s living in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
“We've seen evidence of community spread,” said Manitoba chief health officer Dr. Brent Roussin during an April 15 briefing.
“All Manitobans need to take these precautions - to stay home for the most part, to practice physical distancing, to only leave for necessary reasons and when you are out to keep that two metre separation between others, to frequently wash your hands.”
Roussin also announced two new cases of COVID-19. Two probable cases were determined not to be COVID-19 related, keeping Manitoba’s total case count at 246.
“[The low numbers] are reaffirming that these measures have been effective but need to be continued,” Roussin said.
“This is why the public health orders have been extended up until April 28. This is helping us to flatten our curve, to reduce the impact of this virus and interrupt the transmission of this virus.”
There are currently 132 active cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba.
Premier Brian Pallister announced the legislature would be working into the night April 15, but he did give a quick update in the afternoon.
He said the province was approving increased spending powers, freeing up $1 billion in cash for government programs. Pallister said half would go directly towards health care and half would help establish and expand government assistance programs.
The government is also granting itself more powers to quickly respond to any COVID-19 related concerns.
“We’re asking for the responsibilities that we were elected to fulfill in an unprecedented time, to take the actions necessary to protect the well-being of Manitobans both socially and economically,” he said.
“That is without precedent, but I won’t make excuses for it. The fact of the matter is we have the responsibility to do what’s right for Manitobans and Manitoba as a province.”
Pallister said recent clarifications from the federal government meant they could better provide support to small businesses.
“Early next week, we will be able to outline how we’ll underwrite any additional support here in Manitoba necessary to compliment what the federal government is doing rather than to overlap with what they are doing,” he said.
Pallister added the opposition parties are working well with the government right now, but cautioned the NDP from what Pallister's Progressive Conservative party considered delay tactics. The NDP delayed the government’s 2020 budget speech for days last month by bringing up points of order in protest to what party members saw as an attempt to force through several bills without proper consultation.
“It's a time to work together and I would sincerely encourage no blockades in the legislature. Once is enough,” Pallister said.
“Sequels are never as good as the first one anyway.”
