There was one new positive test for the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, on March 16, the provincial government says.
A man in his 80s who lives in Winnipeg tested positive for the virus and patient contact and public health investigations are underway. It is believed the man was exposed to the virus through recent travel.
There were three positive tests on Sunday for a man in his 70s who lives in Winnipeg, a woman in her 70s who lives in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority and a woman in her 50s who lives in Winnipeg. They are also believed to have been exposed to COVID-19 through travel and patient contact and public health investigations are ongoing.
Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at a March 16 press conference that about 400 tests were done March 15 and all came back negative.
There have been eight positive tests for COVID-19 overall in Manitoba so far.
A dedicated screening clinic has been set up at the Northern Regional Health Authority clinic in the Plaza mall in Thompson. The screening clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is intended for people who have recently travelled internationally and are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms. Additional clinics will be opening soon said Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa, with locations in The Pas and Flin Flon possibly opening as early as March 17.
People who are over 70 years of age, who have significant underlying health conditions or who have compromised immunity may have scheduled surgeries postponed if their surgeon determines that their procedure can be safely delayed by three months without any significant effects on their health.
Manitobans are also being urged to cancel or postpone any non-essential international travel.
People who have travelled internationally in the past 14 days should not visit patients in acute or long-term care health facilities, Siragusa said, and visitor limits of one visitor per patient at a time are being enforced at acute care health facilities.
