No new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, top doctor says

There are no new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba and thetotal number of cases remains at246, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says.

"We need to continue our efforts in our social distancing strategies to limit the spread of this virus. Certainly this may indicate that our efforts are starting to show effect, but now is not the time to loosen up our struggles," he saidat the public briefing Tuesday.

"This virus is in every region in Manitoba, so Manitobans, no matter where you are, need to exercise caution, to stay home as much as you can, to practise physical distancing at all times."

There are nine people in hospital with COVID-19,including four people in the intensive care unit, he said.

So far, 99 people have recovered from the illness, and there are 142 active cases those where patients are still experiencing symptoms of the illness.

Four people have died as a result of the virus.

Roussin says between 53 and 55 per cent of COVID-19 cases are related to travel, while about 25 per cent were caused bydirect and prolonged contact with an infected person.

Of the first 121 cases in the province, those people had contact with 397 people, and 27 of those people developed COVID-19, he said.

Roussin says that means there's a "secondary attack rate" in the province of nine per cent.

"Certainly we know a significant proportion of our current cases are close contacts to cases."

He estimated about 10 per cent of cases were caused by community transmission. As for the remaining cases, some are still being investigated to determine the cause.

The Cadham Provincial Lab performed 365 tests on Monday. A total of 17,709 tests have been performed since early February, Roussin said.

"There is no backlog at this point," Roussin said.

He said Manitoba would have to see a week with low case numbers and without any other indications of spread before any thought of easing the restrictions covered by public health order were to come into play.

The province is currently researching to see if the rapid portableCOVID-19 tests, which were approved by Health Canada over the long weekend, could be effective in doing more widespread testing, Roussin said.

"We hope to be able to utilize that as another tool in the near future."

A second assessment clinic is opening up at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place recreation centre on Wednesday, Shared Healthchief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said Tuesday.

The new assessment clinic will take over COVID-19 testing that's been done atMount Carmel Clinic, she said.

The assessment centre will offerprimary care services for peoplewith respiratory symptoms that must be seen in person, as well as those diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients are seen by appointment only.

'Elevated risk' at personal care homes

Siragusa acknowledged Wednesday that people who live in personal care home face an 'elevated risk' of contracting COVID-19, noting serious outbreaks that have occurred in Canada and around the world.

Public health officials are working to prevent outbreaks in the province, she says.

"I have confirmed that throughout Manitoba the staffing levels at the personal care homes do remain stable, and they are making sure that there are staff available to provide service to the residents in the home," Siragusa said.

She added that additional protective equipment like masks, gowns and gloves willbe delivered to care homes across Manitoba this week and next.

In an effort to reduce spread, Siragusa says food deliveries to health care facilities will no longer be accepted in cardboard or Styrofoamcontainers.They must be wrapped in plastic, andindividually wrappedwhere possible so theycan be wiped down with disinfectant.

WATCH | Full news conference on COVID-19 | April 14, 2020:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: April 14

5 years ago

Duration 43:43

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

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