COVID-19 Weekly Update May 22

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COVID-19 Weekly Update May 22

May 22, 2020

Provincial Updates:

Public health officials advise two new cases of COVID-19 have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today. The total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba is 292.
The data also shows:
– one individual is currently hospitalized, with no individuals in intensive care;
– 18 active cases and 267 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; and
– the number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at seven.

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.

Restoring Safe Services:  Manitoba’s Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for Recovery is available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/. Businesses with questions about how the new orders apply to them should visit https://engagemb.ca/.

A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
 

Federal Updates:

  • Asymptomatic testing. The province of Manitoba has started testing people for COVID-19 who aren’t showing symptoms to get a sense of where it is spreading through people who are asymptomatic.
  • Indigenous aid. The federal government has added $75 million to aid aimed at Indigenous people living off-reserve, Trudeau announced Thursday. The money will be put towards community-based initiatives for providing access to food, transportation, educational materials or mental health services.
  • Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA). The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that application documents and updated criteria for CECRA for small businesses are now available, and that the program will be opened for applications beginning on May 25.
  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). Trudeau announced a small change to the government’s emergency loan program The CEBA, is a $40,000 no-interest loan and was one of the Liberals first policies for small businesses dealing with the drop in sales for COVID-19. But it required businesses to have a payroll and a business bank account.
  • Canada Child Benefit (CCB). The CCB will be increased once again in July, to help families keep up with the costs of living and raising their children.
  • Wear a mask.  Tam officially advised Canadians to wear masks when they can’t be certain of keeping a two-metre distance from others. Tam told reporters on Wednesday that the policy on masks has shifted from “permissive” to a “specific recommendation.”
  • Testing capacity. The federal government is ready to help provinces massively scale up their COVID-19 testing capacity to fend off a potential second wave of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.
  • Canada-US border. An agreement has been reached between Canada and the United States to keep the border closed to all non-essential travel for another month.
  • Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian Armed Forces says 28 military members have tested positive for COVID-19 after being deployed to help at long-term care facilities in Ontario and Quebec.
  • ‘COVID fee.’ Some hair salons and restaurants are among the first businesses in slowly reopening provinces to tack on a coronavirus surcharge to their receipts.
  • Quarantine checks. More than 2,200 Canadians nationwide have been subject to home visits by police ensuring that they are complying with a mandatory 14-day isolation after returning from abroad. 
  • Refund petition. After receiving vouchers instead of refunds for cancelled flights, thousands of Canadians have added their names to an online petition calling on the government to require airlines to reimburse passengers for cancelled flights. 
  • COVID-19 recoveries. More than half of Canada’s COVID-19 patients have fully recovered from the virus, according to Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, marking a new milestone in the first wave of the country’s outbreak.
  • Canadian Red Cross. The Canadian Red Cross will be receiving $100M in federal funding amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Saturday.
  • Quebec reopening. The province’s deputy premier announced Wednesday that as of Friday, people will be allowed to hold outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people from as many as three households. She said people must maintain physical distancing and must not hold the gathering indoors. 
  • Large employer help. Finance Minister Bill Morneau offered details about a financing program for large employers, saying the terms will be the same for any company asking for help through the program. The finance minister said the terms are designed to make sure companies using the program receive bridge loans, not bailouts, to get through COVID-19’s economic disruptions.
  • Toronto parks. In Ontario, the City of Toronto announced it is reopening more than 850 park amenities that have been closed since March.

 

Industry Updates:

Indigenous group continues blockade over COVID 19 concerns in northern Manitoba

Gates swing back open at shuttered construction sites, but swift return to normal appears unlikely

 

Important Provincial Links
COVID-19 Manitoba Screening Tool

MB COVID-19 Information and Resources

COVID-19 Screening Locations

Important National Links
Apply for EI
Government of Canada’s COVID-19 information page
Travel Advisory Information
Canada’s Building Trades Union