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Northern Manitoba should be on alert, despite low virus numbers: health officer

Northern Manitoba has been spared any major COVID-19 outbreaks, but provincial officials are cautioning against letting any guard down. Manitoba chief public health officer Dr.
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Only three cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the Northern Health Region, but officials are still warning residents to stay on alert. (Manitoba Government)

Northern Manitoba has been spared any major COVID-19 outbreaks, but provincial officials are cautioning against letting any guard down.

Manitoba chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced two new cases of the virus in Manitoba during the province's daily briefing May 6. Neither case has been reported within the Northern Health Region (NHR).

Only three cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the NHR since the outbreak began. No cases in the areas have been reported for nearly a month.

“We don’t have diagnosed cases [in the NHR], but that shouldn’t change people’s behaviours,” Roussin said.

“Every Manitoban should feel that the virus is in their community... No matter where you are in the province, I would not let up on the idea of physical distancing. I would not let up on the idea of washing your hands frequently and I certainly wouldn’t let up on the idea of staying home when you’re ill.”

Roussin said Manitobans need to stick to the fundamentals that have been suggested since the beginning of the outbreak.

“Do not attend work, do not go out in public when you’re ill. Certainly attend health care when you’re ill, but we can’t have people showing up for work even with mild symptoms,” he said.

“It’s a reflection on Manitoba’s efforts to put us in this position, but we can’t rely on numbers like that to change our behaviour. We’re going to be dealing with this virus in one way or another for quite some time.”

Northern Saskatchewan hasn’t avoided the virus, with the majority of new cases either in the north or far north regions of the province. A checkpoint warning travellers to stay alert was put up outside Creighton May 5 by the Saskatchewan government.

Roussin said he didn’t anticipate ramping up enforcement of Manitoba’s own travel restrictions, including the public health order preventing travel north of the 53rd parallel within the province.

“If we need to escalate, we can,” he said.

“As of this point, that’s not something we’re doing.”

All Manitobans with symptoms are now eligible to be tested, with over 28,000 tests conducted since the outbreak began. Roussin said all people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms are tested and he expects at least 10 per cent of all cases to need a hospitalization. Only five Manitobans are currently in hospital with COVID-19.

“Our hospital numbers are quite low,” Roussin said.

“That goes against any thought that there is a large, hidden epidemic anywhere in the province.”

The two new cases announced were related to what the province calls a "cluster" of cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Seven cases have been detected in a single workplace.

Roussin said the workplace wasn’t related to health care or food processing and had significant contact with the public.

With some non-essential businesses now allowed to operate, the province is keeping a close eye on businesses to make sure they’re following the rules. Roussin said mask-wearing isn’t mandatory inside any non-medical business.

One of the non-essential businesses that has the all clear to operate is the Big Island Drive-In theatre. Drive-in movie theatres were previously classified as normal movie theatres, but provincial officials changed their classification on May 6.

Any Manitoban with COVID-19 symptoms is encouraged to call Health Links - Info Santé at (204) 788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257 to schedule a test.

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