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Thirteen new Manitoba COVID-19 cases, government pushes toward mask production

Weekend hours change for Flin Flon, Thompson COVID-19 testing sites
mask

COVID-19 cases in Manitoba continue to climb.

Through a media release issued April 11, the provincial government confirmed another 13 cases of the disease throughout Manitoba, bringing the number of confirmed positive cases to 243. 

Some testing locations will see different hours throughout the Easter weekend. Testing areas in Thompson, Flin Flon and The Pas will be open throughout the weekend, but with reduced hours. The sites will be open from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the Manitoba government, there are three total cases of COVID-19 within the Northern Health Region (NHR). The exact locations and communities of the cases have not been confirmed by either regional or provincial health officials.

Another 175 tests were processed at Winnipeg's Cadham Provincial Laboratory Friday, bringing Manitoba to 16,383 tests total since the beginning of the outbreak.

"Manitobans should not interpret current case numbers to mean the risk of COVID-19 is reduced.  The current statistics may be a reflection of the effect strict social distancing measures have had and reaffirms that these measures must be continued.  Manitobans are reminded this is not the time to let their guard down," reads a provincial government news release.

Meanwhile, the provincial government announced plans to have Manitoba-based businesses produce masks for front-line health workers. In an April 11 press release from the provincial health ministry, officials state that a team at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre has developed a new type of reusable mask as effective as N95 medical grade masks. 

“The mask has a similar design to that of industrial masks.  It is a respirator made of moulded silicone and 3D printed components, and it accepts many available filters as well as a custom-designed reusable filter housing for an N95 or higher disk filter,” said Dr. Christian Petropolis, a plastic surgeon and training director at the Univ. of Manitoba who led the team that created the new mask.

The next step is to produce the mask commercially - the province will seek submissions for businesses to produce the masks.

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