Shortly after Premier Brian Pallister released a Phase 3 draft for restoring services Thursday, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin reported no news cases of COVID-19.
That’s the sixth day in a row without a new case, while recovered cases are up one at 286. Lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases remain at 300, with 26 in Prairie Mountain Health.
None of the seven with the virus is being treated in hospital.
An additional 735 laboratory tests were performed Wednesday, bringing the total to 51,460 since early February.
The proposed loosening of various restrictions June 21 as part of Phase 3 doesn’t mean COVID-19 is going away anytime soon, Roussin stressed.
"We will continue to deal with this virus in one shape or another for the foreseeable future," he said.
Proposed changes to restrictions – which are based on health data – include increasing group sizes at various venues and events and easing travel restrictions, as well as lifting occupancy limits.
"Manitobans are learning to live with this virus," Roussin said, adding there will be some level of risk.
"That will require Manitobans to make informed choices about the level of risk they’re willing to take."
Roussin emphasized that as the government loosens restrictions, these are not directives for any business or individual to do anything.
"So we may see some businesses not opening up immediately. We may see some businesses not moving to the full allowable capacity, and that’s fine. And individual Manitobans will have to decide on the risk they’re willing to take as we increase their ability to get out and about," he said.
"That’s not unusual. We take risks in our lives every day."
He also said it’s too early to have a conclusive judgment on Phase 2.
Whatever final version of Phase 3 comes to pass June 21, Roussin cautioned the same risk-reduction practices Manitobans are familiar with should be continued, such as hand hygiene and physical distancing.
Also on Thursday, a group of federal, provincial and Indigenous agencies announced four GeneXpert machines – which can provide test results in as little an hour – have been deployed to northern Manitoba.
Roussin said the machines provide rapid results, but can’t handle high volumes.
"They are utilized when there is a significant benefit to having a rapid test result. So those places with individuals that are symptomatic, we can test them, they can self-isolate. In places where there might be a remote factor, where self-isolation within a community is quite difficult, there might be significant benefit to getting a test result back right then so we can work out ways to isolate that individual," he said.
Health-care providers in Thompson, The Pas, Norway House Cree Nation and the Percy E. Moore Hospital at Peguis First Nation will supplement COVID-19 testing already being conducted at facilities throughout Manitoba’s north with the GeneXpert.
"As there’s more and more resources available, and as more as these testing kits become available, we may look at other geographic areas (for deployment)," said Roussin.
