COVID-19 Bulletin #40 – Province of Manitoba – April 3, 2020

Public health officials advise 15 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified as of 9:30 a.m., bringing the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 182.  In addition, a second death has been reported.  Patient specific details are not being released at this time.
The data also shows:
•    nine individuals are currently hospitalized including six in intensive care,
•    11 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and
•    the total number of deaths reported in Manitoba is two.
Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 634 tests Thursday.  As of April 3, a total of 11,952 tests have been performed.
Eight companies have responded to the province’s call for donations of medical supplies, which will help ensure the province is prepared to meet the needs of patients and ensure appropriate protection from COVID-19 is available to health-care workers.  One day after putting out a call for supplies, the health system received donations of 2,570 N95 masks, 3,110 surgical and procedure masks, 9,300 gloves and 202 bottles of hand sanitizer.  Donations of the following supplies are welcome:
•    N95 respirators of various models and sizes, both hospital and industrial grade;
•    surgical/procedure masks;
•    gloves;
•    disposable gowns and
•    disinfectants and cleaners.
Supplies must be in original packaging, clean and in useable condition.  Expired supplies are not able to be accepted.
For more information on donating supplies, visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/supply-donations/  or call (toll-free) 1-833-408-0101.
The Manitoba government has decided to postpone the remaining dates for making campground reservations.  Sessions scheduled for April 6 and April 8 will be rescheduled later.  Existing campground, group-use and yurt reservations are still valid, but may be cancelled if the situation changes.  More information is available at www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks.
Public health is also advising people to remain within or close to their home communities.  This includes limiting travel, even within Manitoba, to essential trips only.  Services at smaller health centres could be strained if seasonal visitors become ill.
In order to meet the continuing need for Winnipeggers to be screened for COVID-19, a second community testing drive-thru site opened today at the Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) Main Street service centre, 1284 Main St.  Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Other Winnipeg locations include:
•    Mount Carmel Clinic, 886 Main St.;
•    Access Winnipeg West, 280 Booth Dr.; and
•    MPI’s Bison Drive Service Centre, 15 Barnes St.
The redeployment of testing resources to the Main Street location will allow testing sites at Access Transcona and Access Fort Garry to return to their mandate of providing primary and episodic care to patients.  The public is reminded that a referral to these testing sites is needed and they are not walk-in clinics.  Information on locations and hours of operation throughout Manitoba is available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/locations.html.
Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required.
For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
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