Send this page to someone via email

Manitoba is seeing “early signs” of community transmission of the novel coronavirus and there were 24 new cases overnight.

As of Wednesday, Manitoba had 127 probable and confirmed cases, said Dr. Brent Roussin, the province’s chief public health officer.

One person has died, four people are in hospital and four have recovered.

Roussin said there are now several cases that investigations could not link to travel, confirming “early signs of community transmission.”

Roussin says they knew this day would come. "We knew to expect this as more and more cases are introduced into a jurisdiction, that community transmission is going to be inevitable. — Brittany Greenslade (@BrittAtGlobal) April 1, 2020

Story continues below advertisement

“Now is the time to stay home. Stay home. Stay home,” said Roussin.

Says this is happening in Winnipeg — with about four or five cases considered community transmission at this point. #glbwpg — Diana Foxall (@CJOBdiana) April 1, 2020

Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 1,130 tests Tuesday. As of April 1, a total of 10,044 tests have been performed.

"We have a duty to protect our patients, our staff and our community," Lanette Siragusa says of the new measures in place at care homes. #glbwpg — Diana Foxall (@CJOBdiana) April 1, 2020

Story continues below advertisement

Screening procedures will likely continue to open up in the near future, said Roussin, but for now symptomatic people who are high risk are still the focus.

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

Asked about Manitoba’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), Lanette Siragusa of Shared Health said Manitoba has supplies for weeks for some things and months for others, and more is on the way.

Should Manitoba face a shortage of PPE, she said she will disclose that fact.

As for kids, the province is holding an online Q&A for children on YouTube Thursday at 11 a.m.

Roussin announced Tuesday that a health-care worker from Selkirk Regional Health Centre had tested positive for the virus.

“New screening procedures are being implemented for staff working in acute and long-term care facilities,” said Roussin.

“Implementation of these measures will begin today and will involve all staff arriving for the start of their shift to have their temperature taken and be required to answer questions about any symptoms they have, their travel history and their exposure to positive COVID-19 cases.”

Siragusa says DynaCare made 1,200 calls to people whose results for COVID-19 came back negative yesterday, helping reduce that backlog of calls. #glbwpg — Diana Foxall (@CJOBdiana) April 1, 2020

Story continues below advertisement

Nursing help

Manitoba is allowing its nursing registrar to waive or modify registration hurdles for former nurses so more can be hired to work in local hospitals.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen and Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement Wednesday.

These nurses must have been in good standing with the college and have practiced in the last 5 years. Registration fees will be waived for these nurses. "There is no cost for a former nurse to re-enter the workforce at this time" – Friesen says — Brittany Greenslade (@BrittAtGlobal) April 1, 2020

“Resilience matters in our health-care system,” said Pallister.

“We have seen what has happened in other jurisdictions when preparation is insufficient,” said Friesen.

“I want to thank the College of Registered Nurses and their registrants for working with us to make sure we can prepare for the challenges we face and ensure the safe care of Manitoba patients.”

Story continues below advertisement

Former registrants of the college who want more information can visit here.

Friesen speaking about nurses and health care workers who are currently in self-isolation. He says they are taking action and that Dr. Roussin will follow up with that in the next press conference — Brittany Greenslade (@BrittAtGlobal) April 1, 2020

This isn’t the only health-care plan happening, said Friesen, adding that the province is looking at the idea of building temporary hospitals or using other structures to handle the expected surge in COVID-19 cases over the next few weeks.

Asked about sales of N95 masks on the black market for twice the price, Pallister says he's disappointed in the shameful conduct and says masks need to be prioritized for healthcare workers on the front lines. #glbwpg — Diana Foxall (@CJOBdiana) April 1, 2020

Story continues below advertisement

Minister Friesen says testing for COVID-19 in Manitoba is up. We'll be hearing from the province's chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin in half an hour on the latest case numbers. #glbwpg — Diana Foxall (@CJOBdiana) April 1, 2020