COVID-19 Weekly Update May 1
May 1, 2020
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Provincial Update
Public health officials advise four new cases of COVID-19 have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 279.
The data also shows:
• five individuals are currently hospitalized, with no individuals in intensive care;
• 38 active cases and 235 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at six.
- Manitoba introduced the Restoring Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic Economic Recovery Roadmap which outlines a multi-phased to gradually restore services, open some businesses and increase recreational opportunities while maintaining social distancing advice. The first phase will begin May 4.
- As of May 4, a variety of non-essential health-care and retail businesses will have the option to reopen under strict guidelines.
- Size restrictions of public and private gatherings of no more than 10 people will remain in place.
- Travel restrictions will remain in place such as avoiding all non-essential travel outside of Manitoba, and requirements for self-isolation for 14 days
Services, businesses and venues include:
• non-urgent surgery and diagnostic procedures;
• therapeutic and medical services;
• retail businesses;
• restaurants – patio/walk-up services;
• hair salons;
• museums, galleries and libraries;
• seasonal day camps; and
• outdoor recreation and campgrounds
- Today, The provincial government’s online portal to facilitate business applications to the Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP) went live. Eligible businesses are now able to submit online application forms at Industry
Construction groups tell City of Winnipeg to boost infrastructure spending
Construction industry keen to start new builds, as COVID-19 restrictions eased
Iron Workers VP makes case for ramped-up training, recruitment. - This week, the province expanded COVID-19 testing criteria while also ramping up its testing capacity. Testing is now open to any Manitoban with symptoms of COVID-19, even mild symptoms including a cough, runny nose, sore throat and/or fever, to be tested to better determine the spread of the virus in Manitoba.
- A new drive-thru community testing site will open Friday in Swan River, at the Manitoba Public Insurance facility, 125-4th Ave. North.
- On April 28, the province announced they are implementing four new temporary orders, retroactive to the beginning of the state of emergency March 20:
Youth in Care Provisions Order,
• Student Aid Provisions Order,
• International Fuel Tax Agreement Credential Provisions Order, and
• Trucking and Transportation Provisions Order. - In Winnipeg, all city-owned play structures and picnic shelters will reopen Monday, along with skate parks, tennis courts, basketball courts, and athletic fields.People must abide by physical distancing rules and gatherings must be limited to 10 people. Only non-contact sports will be allowed. Libraries will not open at this time.
Manitobans are reminded that if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19 and meet testing criteria, they can call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 for more information.
For up-to-date information on testing criteria and community screening sites, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/locations.html. For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
Federal Updates:
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada is 53,669 as of May 1, with 3,224 deaths and 22,091 recoveries.
- COVID-19 cases pass 50,000 in Canada.
- According to Statistics Canada, almost one-third of businesses could stay open if physical distancing rules remain in place for six months, but nearly as many suggest they won’t survive that long. Those restrictions have hit companies hard, with nearly one-third of respondents saying their revenues have plummeted by 40 per cent as a result of the COVID-19
- The federal government updated COVID-19 modelling numbers in light of a spike in deaths in long-term care homes. COVID-19 fatality rate was initially calculated as roughly 2.2 per cent, the rate has now been revised to 5.5 per cent. deaths in long-term care and seniors’ homes account for 79 per cent of the total deaths in the country, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada(PHAC).
- Government officials at both provincial and federal levels have been looking intodigital measures for tracking incidents where COVID-19 positive people might have come into contact with others. Justin Trudeau says the privacy of Canadians must be taken into account as the government looks at proposalsfor digital contact tracing technology.
- Newfoundland and Labrador plans to loosen some public health restrictions in a series of five “alert levels.”The move to level four on May 11 will allow some medical procedures to resume as well as low-risk activities, such as golf, hunting and fishing. Low-risk businesses including garden centres and professional services, such as law firms, will be able to reopen under level four.
- Following Manitoba, Saskatchewan Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario, the first step in Alberta’s plan to reopen its economy will emphasize outdoor activities, with golf courses to open on Saturday followed by shops, bars and restaurants by mid-May.
- Canada has officially entered a recession due to the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the C.D. Howe Institute’s Business Cycle Council declared Friday.
- On April 30, Nunavut reported its first case of COVID-19.
- A new study found that the antiviral medicationremdesivir shortened recovery time to 11 days on average versus 15 days for patients given typical care.
- The number of Canadians who say they’re experiencing high levels of anxiety has quadrupled since the pandemic beganlast month, according to a new survey completed by Mental Health Research Canada.
- In the health advisory, Health Canada said it is concerned people may be purchasing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19 and warn against the drug’s side-effects.
- Canadians have lost more than $1.2 million in recent weeks to scammers taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said the centre has received 739 reports since March 6 of attempts to defraud Canadians with scams related to the pandemic. He said 178 of those attempts succeeded.
For the latest info on the state of COVID-19 in Canada, visit the Government of Canada’s website.
Industry
Construction groups tell City of Winnipeg to boost infrastructure spending
Construction industry keen to start new builds, as COVID-19 restrictions eased
Iron Workers VP makes case for ramped-up training, recruitment
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