Public health officials advise three additional probable 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 39 at this time.  Manitoba has also recorded its first patient death.  Patient specific details are not being released at this time.

Public health investigations are underway to determine additional details and to confirm the possible exposure of this/these case/cases.

As authorized under The Public Health Act, the following measures will be in place, effective
12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 30.  Public gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises.  This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals.  This does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters.  Retail businesses including grocery or food stores, shopping centres, pharmacies or gas stations must ensure separation of one to two metres between patrons assembling in the business.  Public transportation facilities must also ensure that people assembling at the facility are reasonably able to maintain a separation of one to two metres.

Other restrictions first introduced in a public health order issued on March 20 remain in effect.

Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 606 tests on Thursday.  As of March 26, a total of 6,203 tests have been performed.

Public health officials are strongly advising all Manitobans, including health-care providers, to cancel or postpone any non-essential travel.  This includes international travel and travel within Canada.  There should be no recreational, tourist or non-essential personal travel.  In addition, public health officials recommended that effective March 23, anyone who returns from international or domestic travel should self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following their return.

This recommendation does not include:
•    the commercial transportation of goods and services;
•    workers who live in a neighbouring jurisdiction and travel to Manitoba for work;
•    health care workers who travel to work from outside the province;
•    normal personal travel in border communities, including visits to a cottage.

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.

Additional drive-thru community testing sites opened today in Eriksdale at the Eriksdale Wellness Centre, 35 Railway Ave., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday and in Portage la Prairie at the Stride Centre, 245 Royal Rd., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.  A community testing site will open Monday, March 30 in Pine Falls at École Powerview School, 33 Vincent St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The community testing site in The Pas has relocated to the Royal Canadian Legion at 4 Veterans Way and will continue to be open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This will brings the total to 15 community testing sites including six drive-thru locations.  The public is reminded that a referral to these sites is needed and they are not walk-in clinics.  Information on locations and hours of operation are available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/locations.html.

Moving forward, the province will continue to share updates on the total number of cases but additional patient information such as gender, age, and the regional health authority where they reside will be provided online once it is confirmed through public health investigation.  The province is also working to provide an additional breakdown of information online including the number of hospitalizations, home recovery and cases that are resolved.  This reporting is in line with reporting in other jurisdictions and ensures consistent, accurate data is available to the public.

Information about flights where a person with a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 had symptoms at the time of travel is updated at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/flights.html as information becomes available.

For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit:
www.manitoba.ca/covid19.