The Manitoba government has issued several recommendations for the public to help halt the spread of COVID-19.
In the provincial government's most recent COVID-19 update, given out in the morning of March 18, provincial health officials issued recommendations for either closing or drastically reducing public gatherings.
All gatherings of 50 people or more are recommended to be cancelled. Services at licenced child care centres will be suspended March 20 at the end of the day, while K-12 school classes will be suspended as of March 23. Casinos in Manitoba will be closed.
Another recommendation is that no visitors, aside from exceptions for compassionate reasons, should be allowed in long-term care facilities, with only one visitor at a time for acute care facilities with exceptions for compassionate reasons or parents of children in hospital. Adult day programs at personal care facilities will also be halted.
"You should not be in gatherings more than 50 people. You should be focused on social distancing right now," said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer.
Surgeries for patients who may be vulnerable to COVID-19 have been cancelled, with patients being contacted directly if their procedures are affected.
The province also is strongly urging no Manitobans to travel internationally unless the travel is necessary. All international travellers, regardless of where they go or reasons for travel, are recommended to self-isolate and self-monitor for 14 days after returning to Canada.
"If you can stay home, stay home," said Roussin.
In addition to the recommendations, the province also plans to develop new options for medical care, developing what it calls "virtual visit and virtual care psychotherapy options to supplement traditional models of care" as well as providing advice on social distancing practices.
