Over 200 people in Manitoba have recovered after catching COVID-19.
Provincial chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin made the announcement during a provincial briefing on COVID-19 April 27.
One new case was detected by the province, a day after four new cases were detected April 26. More than 23,000 tests have been conducted and processed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory in Winnipeg since the outbreak began.
“Our numbers have been stable and reflective of Mantiobans efforts at maintaining and flattening our curve,” Roussin said.
“Manitobans have really stepped up. We have not seen significant community based transmission.”
Lanette Siragusa, Manitoba chief nursing officer, said workers at all personal care homes in the province will be only working at a single facility moving forward. The move follows a similar rule put in place in Saskatchewan earlier this month.
She said the new measures will help prepare for Manitoba’s plans to begin reopening the province's economy. Plans for getting people back to work are expected to be announced later this week.
A majority of COVID-19 deaths in Ontario and Quebec have been reported in care homes among residents.
“We have looked closely at the tragic experiences in other jurisdictions and we are applying our observations and their lessons to the implimentation here in Manitoba,” Siragusa said.
“We are at a different phase here in Manitoba, really to the credit of all Manitobans who have embraced the public health orders and stayed home when they’re sick and kept that physical distancing.”
Restrictions on northern Manitoba travel are expected to remain in place, even as the rest of the province loosens their measures. Currently, the provincial health order relating to the restrictions will remain in place until May 1, when it may be extended.
All non-essential travel north of the 53rd parallel in Manitoba has been restricted by the province.
“We’re going to announce the detailed plan this week,” Roussin said.
“We’re looking at certain non-essential businesses that will open. It’s not a return to normal. There will be a number of restrictions.”
Only three cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Northern Health Region. No new cases have been reported in nearly three weeks.
Anyone with symptoms, even mild ones, is encouraged to call Health Links – Info Santé to see if they can get tested.
