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Low number of new positive tests for COVID-19 no reason for Manitobans to let down their guard

No cases of the virus among health care workers in the Northern Regional Health Authority
Four new positive tests for COVID-19 were reported in Manitoba April 8, bringing the provincial tota
Four new positive tests for COVID-19 were reported in Manitoba April 8, bringing the provincial total to 221 so far. Of those cases, 69 people are listed as recovered and three have died.

Only four new positive tests for COVID-19 were announced by the provincial government April 8 but chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said that’s no reason for Manitobans to let their guard down. 

“The next few weeks are critical to Manitoba’s response [to the pandemic,]” he said. “Now is an opportunity to continue to flatten the curve in Manitoba. We are making a difference. We need to continue to make this difference. If these numbers are reassuring I’d like to deter anyone from thinking that. Manitobans' lives are at stake if you don’t follow this advice [to continue social distancing practices.]”

There have now been 221 positive tests for COVID-19 in Manitoba since March 12 and 149 are considered active, with three people having died and 69 listed as recovered. Manitoba tested 477 people for the virus April 7 and the total number of tests completed so far is 14,708.

The new cases included three in the Interlake-Eastern heath region and one in Winnipeg. The number of cases in the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) area remains at three.

Manitoba’s chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said 20 health care workers in the province have tested positive for COVID-19. This number includes some physicians, some nurses and some support staff. No health care workers have tested positive in the the NRHA, southern or Prairie Mountain health regions. 

Supply chain disruptions are affecting the province’s supply of personal protective equipment such as N95 masks, gowns and gloves, with only a few weeks' supply currently on hand.

Roussin once again addressed the practice of identifying cases only by health region and not by specific communities outside of Winnipeg, which is a health region unto itself.

“To know that this virus is three towns over shouldn’t affect your decision to self-isolate,” he said. “Whether there’s a report of a case in your town or not shouldn’t change that at all. We’re all at high risk right now. This is a significant threat to the health of Manitobans.”

Roussin said the real measure of when the time comes to relax social distancing recommendations and public health orders restricting activities and business operations will be the ability of the health care system to maintain the capacity to treat anyone who needs it. 

“We’re focused on this wave to flatten this curve right now,” he said in response to a question about whether social distancing would still be required come July or August.

As of April 8 there were at least 18,451 cases of the coronavirus in Canada, including the four announced today in Manitoba. COVID-19 infections have killed 401 people in Canada up to April 8.

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