COVID-19 Daily updates - Wednesday, April 1
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, April 1, 2020
1:27 p.m. 24 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba
Public health officials advise 24 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 127 at this time.
The data also shows:
• four individuals are currently hospitalized, including three in intensive care;
• four individuals have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the total number of deaths reported in Manitoba remains at one.
Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 1,130 tests Tuesday. As of April 1, a total of 10,044 tests have been performed.
12:16 p.m. Province will permit former nurses to practice during COVID-19 pandemic
Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen has issued an order under The Regulated Health Professions Act to enable 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.
“We know the pandemic will place additional strain on the health-care system, and we’re making this regulatory change to ensure former nurses can be called upon to bolster the number of nurses in our hospitals, personal care homes and clinics to provide services to patients,” said Friesen. “I want to thank the College of Registered Nurses and their registrants for working with us to make sure we can prepare for the challenges we face and ensure the safe care of Manitoba patients.”
Former registrants of the college seeking information on temporary registration requirements should visit https://www.crnm.mb.ca/about/covid-19. In addition, application and registration fees will be waived for former registrants applying for temporary registration via this process.
The minister noted the order will remain in place until there is no longer a serious and immediate threat to public health.
“We know many former registered nurses have already contacted us offering support to their colleagues during this very difficult time,” said Friesen. “By coming together and taking the right steps, we can make a real difference and help the health-care system be prepared for the hard work ahead.”
In addition, the province’s first COVID-19 clinical trial for a drug is underway. The study will test if a rheumatological drug known as hydroxychloroquine can prevent people from contracting COVID-19. The scientific trial will determine if the drug can safely be used as a treatment for COVID-19.
People who are eligible are:
• people who have tested positive for COVID-19,
• people who live with individuals who test positive, and
• health-care workers who were exposed to patients with confirmed positive infection.
10:36 a.m Spring road restrictions eased.
Manitoba is easing spring road restrictions to help make sure essential goods get to where they’re going during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Essential commodities include groceries, medical supplies, fuel, fertilizer, bulk milk, potable water for non-industrial use, emergency equipment and materials, and mail delivery on behalf of the Canada Post Corporation. It also includes livestock and livestock feed in transit, and hay for feed in transit within Manitoba.
Under normal conditions, spring weight restrictions are enforced on Manitoba’s surfaced roads during the spring. This protects roads from excessive damage by reducing the axle weights of heavy commercial vehicles during the period when roads are most at risk of weakening under spring rains and thawing.
Under the revised restrictions, a vehicle may transport essential commodities at normal loading on highways that are subject to Level 1 road restrictions. Additionally, essential commodities may be transported at normal loading on roads subject to Level 2 restrictions, under the following conditions:
• If the highway links two points on the vehicle’s itinerary that are less than 10 kilometres apart, or in any other case if the highway is the most direct route between a point on the itinerary and the nearest highway that is not subject to Level 2 road restrictions. A point on the itinerary means that the vehicle is picking up, or dropping off a load on that Level 2 restricted highway.
• If the essential commodities are transported between midnight and noon during the first 14 days of this restriction order, or at any time of the day after the 14th day.
Vehicles that are travelling empty to pick up essential commodities, or travelling empty after having delivered them, may travel at any time of the day at Level 1 weights on highways that are subject to Level 2 road restrictions, if they comply with the above-noted conditions.
For the 2020 Spring Road Restrictions season, a permit is not required to transport grain to satisfy grain quotas or contracts, or to transport potatoes or vegetables from producer to processor, and these commodities are eligible for the normal loading described above.
