COVID-19 Weekly Update April 3
April 3, 2020
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Provincial updates
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.
- Today, the province announced over $100 million in support and relief for Manitoba’s fight against COVID-19. They added new measures to the Manitoba Protection Plan to provide extra support and relief to homeowners and businesses, and to enhance health preparedness for new medical equipment and shelter space.
- A change in protocol will soon require health-care workers working in patient care roles at facilities including at hospitals, long-term care facilities, health centres, nursing stations, Access Centres and COVID-19 testing locations to expand their use of procedure masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
- At least 70 Health Sciences Centre staff self-isolating after COVID-19 exposure.
- Public health is also advising that people remain within or close to their home communities. This includes limiting travel, even within Manitoba, to essential trips only.
- The government issued an order enabling the registrar of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba to waive or modify registration requirements for former registered nurses, allowing them to apply for temporary registration during the pandemic on an expedited basis. Former registrants of the college seeking information on temporary registration requirements should visit https://www.crnm.mb.ca/about/covid-19
- Manitoba is suspending classroom learning for kindergarten to Grade 12 students indefinitely for this school year.
- The Manitoba government has issued a new public health order that came into effect April 1, which will require all non-critical businesses to close until April 14. The list of public health orders and the schedule of critical services can be found online at manitoba.ca/covid19/soe.html.
- Businesses with questions about how the order and schedule of critical services apply to their operations can visit http://engagemb.ca/covid19-csp
The new public health order includes several restrictions:
- Public gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people indoors or outdoors,
- All restaurants and other commercial facilities that serve food are prohibited from serving food in their premises, preventing eat-in dining at all facilities,
- Restaurants and other facilities can still serve food for takeout or delivery,
- All businesses that aren’t listed as critical services must close between April 1 and April 14, this does not prevent businesses from operating on a remote basis,
- The order does not restrict delivery of services by the federal or provincial government, or a municipality,
- The order does not affect institutions, agencies and other service providers who provide health-care services,
- Transit services, taxis and other private vehicles for hire can continue to operate while following physical distancing guideline.
As Manitoba’s health system continues with preparations to ensure it is prepared to meet the needs of patients and to ensure appropriate protection from COVID-19 is available to health-care workers, donations of the following supplies are now 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 will not be accepted. For more information on donating supplies, visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/supply-donations/ or call (toll-free) 1-833-408-0101.
For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
Federal updates
As of April 2, 2020, 11,268 people were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 including 138 people who have died.
- On April 3, The Prime Minister announced an investment of $100 million to improve access to food for Canadians facing social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Canadian businesses and non-profit organizations of any size that see a drop of at least 30 per cent in revenue due to COVID-19 will qualify for the government’s 75 per cent wage subsidy program. It will be capped at $847 a week, backdated to March 15, and at least three months.
- As the government pushes to repatriate Canadians stuck abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warning that they could be a real danger to the rest of the country.
- 85% of Canadian troops ordered into isolation to prepare for COVID-19 operations across the country.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said too many Canadians were still going out needlessly, potentially spreading the coronavirus and putting health-care workers at unnecessary risk. He says he was leaning on restrictions provinces have put in place rather than issuing a mandatory national stay-home order, which would require him to invoke the never-before-used Emergencies Act.
- The Government of Canada is investing $2 billion to support diagnostic testing and to purchase ventilators and protective personal equipment, including for bulk purchases with provinces and territories.
- Across Canada, a domestic travel ban for those showing symptoms went into effect at noon on Monday.
- Air Canada temporarily laid off more than 15,000 unionized workers at the beginning this week.
For the latest info on the state of COVID-19 in Canada, visit the Government of Canada’s website.
Industry updates
Province deems construction essential; trade unions call for clarity on safety
Construction industry making changes due to COVID-19
Construction Work Was Already Dangerous. Coronavirus Is Making It Worse.
Canada’s trucking and logistics industry faces critical labour shortage
Canada continues Transmountain pipeline construction
Important Provincial Links
COVID-19 Manitoba Screening Tool
MB COVID-19 Information and Resources
Important National Links
Apply for EI
Government of Canada’s COVID-19 information page
Travel Advisory Information
Canada’s Building Trades Union