COVID-19 daily updates - Thursday, April 9
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- Published on Thursday, April 9, 2020
2:29 p.m. Province provides update on child care options for families
The Manitoba government is expanding efforts to connect families with child care, ensuring critical services workers and their children can access child care if they absolutely need it during this difficult time, Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced today.
“Child-care centres and homes that are opening their doors to children and their families during this challenging time are truly heroes helping heroes,” said Stefanson. “We continue to call on child-care facilities and early childhood educators to be part of our provincewide response to COVID-19. Together, we can ensure children can continue to learn and grow in a safe, caring environment as their parents go to work helping those most affected by COVID-19.”
As of today, more than 1,900 children of health-care and other emergency services workers have been matched with an available space by staff within the Department of Families. These parents include health-care providers, emergency service providers, corrections workers, law enforcement workers, fire and paramedic workers, and direct social services and child protection workers. Over the next several days, staff will work to match parents remaining on the waitlist for child care before moving toward the new online system.
Beginning on Tuesday, April 14, all parents who work in critical services, as defined by the chief provincial public health officer, will be eligible to access child-care spaces available in licensed facilities. This includes support staff at hospitals and clinics, grocery store staff, farmers and farm workers, construction workers, bank or credit union employees. Starting Friday, parents working in these sectors who have been unable to make other child-care arrangements will be able to go to www.manitoba.ca/covid19 to see which facilities have spaces and work directly with them to secure child care.
The minister encouraged licensed child-care facilities that want to help by re-opening or continuing to have spaces available to notify the province by submitting an updated facility status form through Manitoba Child Care Online at www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childcare/index.html.
The full provincial operating grant, over $30 million, continued to flow to all licensed child-care facilities on April 1. The Government of Canada has also confirmed that child-care centres are eligible for the federal emergency wage subsidy, which provides up to 75 per cent of employee wages for businesses and non-profits.
“Our government is providing child-care centres and home-based providers with the support they need to continue operating during this difficult time,” said Stefanson. “We will continue to do what we can to ensure that vital critical services workers can access child care so that they continue working on the front lines of this pandemic.”
The Manitoba government also launched an $18-million grant program to help early childhood educators begin independently offering child-care services in their homes or in the community, administered by the Winnipeg and Manitoba chambers of commerce. Early childhood educators can apply for the grant by filling out the Temporary Child Care Service Grant Form at https://forms.gov.mb.ca/temporary-child-care-service-grant/.
Manitoba continues to follow the advice of the chief provincial public health officer, who has advised that licensed child-care centres can continue to provide services to children as long as the care is limited to no more than 16 children per centre. Some larger centres with segregated rooms and separate external entrances are able to offer care for up to 16 children per room. Home-based child-care providers can also continue to operate with up to eight children.
Manitoba has distributed a COVID-19 practice guideline outlining the hygiene and other recommended measures for child care in Manitoba. In addition, Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, has provided a circular to all centres advising them of infection prevention protocols during this time and will be available to answer questions from child-care centres and providers next week. The province is also committed to providing child-care providers with additional supplies and equipment to help prevent the spread of the virus as recommended by public health officials, the minister noted.
Parents are reminded that children experiencing cold or flu symptoms, have travelled in the last 14 days or who have been exposed to others with a confirmed case of COVID-19 cannot be dropped off at a child-care facility and should remain at home.
All screening for suspected cases of the virus are to be referred to Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) 1-888-315-9257. The most up-to-date information on COVID19 can be found at www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
The listing of critical services, as authorized under The Public Health Act, is available at https://news.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2020/03/BG-PHA_-_COVID-19-PR.pdf.
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.ht
1:06 p.m. Three new COVID-19 cases announced; 76 recovered
Public health officials advise three 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 224.
The data also shows:
• 11 individuals are currently hospitalized, which includes five individuals in intensive care;
• 76 individuals have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the total number of deaths reported in Manitoba is three.
Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 551 tests Wednesday. A total of 15,259 tests have been performed since early February.
Manitoba has chosen to close public facilities in provincial parks, effective immediately. While the parks will remain open, public facilities including washrooms, playgrounds, and the use of picnic areas and group shelters will be closed to ensure social distancing practices are enforced.
Public health officials are expanding testing criteria to include first responders with respiratory symptoms. This would include positions such as paramedics, police and firefighters. Current testing parameters include people with symptoms who have travelled outside Manitoba in the last 14 days, close contacts of a confirmed case, health-care workers, all patients admitted to hospital with respiratory symptoms, lab workers who have worked with COVID-19 tests, and individuals who live/work in the north, a remote or isolated community, or congregate setting.
Manitobans should not interpret current case numbers to mean the risk is reduced. The current statistics may be a reflection of the effect strict social distancing measures have had and reaffirms that these measures must be continued. Manitobans are reminded this is not the time to let their guard down. Actions taken today will affect case numbers in the weeks ahead. All Manitobans must remain vigilant to flatten the curve of this virus. This weekend is normally busy with gatherings for Easter or Passover celebrations. However, families are reminded that gatherings with anyone from outside your household are strongly discouraged.
Health officials continue to remind Manitobans to seek medical attention when it is required. For serious health issues call 911, go to an emergency department or an urgent care centre. Hospitals are safe places and health-care providers will ensure every precaution is taken while providing care.
Several community testing sites have altered hours of operation for the upcoming long weekend. Testing sites in Brandon, Dauphin, Pine Falls and Eriksdale will be closed on Good Friday.
Sites in Thompson, Flin Flon and The Pas will be open daily through the weekend, with reduced hours of 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Testing sites in Selkirk, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach and Winkler will keep regular hours this weekend.
12:21 p.m. Operation Safe Apart launched in Winnipeg
The Manitoba Government and the City of Winnipeg have announced a new intiative known as 'Operation Safe Apart'. The new measures will enforce public health orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will include enhanced ticketing capacity and pre-set fines for indiviudals or business owners who disregard public health orders.
“Everyone has a role to play in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and the majority of Manitobans are adhering to good social distancing practices and changing how they operate at home, in their community and within their business,” said premier Brian Pallister. “Unfortunately, there is still a need to have additional measures in place to address situations where people are ignoring the advice of our health experts. These changes will give enforcement officers more tools to help curb the spread of the virus.”
Effective immediately, fine amounts for breaching these emergency orders will be set at $486 for individuals and $2,542 for businesses.
Manitoba will be implementing a multi-tiered enforcement approach to enforcing orders, which will include public education, written warning or ultimately, enforcement actions such as ticketing or arrest if necessary, the premier said.
In Winnipeg, the province is working in close collaboration with the City of Winnipeg, which will utilize Community Service Ambassadors to participate in public education and awareness, with bylaw officer and support from the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) where required.
“I want to thank all those who are doing their part by staying home, practising physical distancing and respecting the measures put in place by the Manitoba government,” said Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman. “While most in our community are doing their part, there are some who are not getting the message. I hope education and awareness will be sufficient and enforcement won’t be required but in the event it is, these measures will help protect the safety of Winnipeggers.”
To support these efforts, Manitoba Justice is partnering with City of Winnipeg to create enforcement units, with WPS acting in an assistance role, in ‘Operation Safe Apart’. These units will be dedicated to enforcing orders along with providing awareness and prevention, responding to complaints and supporting bylaw enforcement officers.
In Winnipeg, reports of non-compliance can be made by calling: 311 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Twitter: @cityofwinnipeg.
Measures involving public health officers working in conjunction with local police services, First Nation police services and the RCMP are also in place for municipalities outside of Winnipeg. Plans are underway to expand these and adopt measures similar to those announced today for Winnipeg. These include engaging municipal bylaw officers, community and First Nation safety officers, community volunteer groups such as Citizens on Patrol, and Manitoba Conservation officers who will work with respective police services.
Outside of Winnipeg, reports of non-compliance can be made to the Manitoba Government Inquiry (MGI) inquiry line at 204-945-3744 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
10:21 a.m. Province creates web portal to supplement home learning resources
The province is providing a supplemental online resource for Manitoba families whose children are learning at home during the suspension of in-school classes because of COVID-19, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today.
“This web portal, My Learning at Home/Mon Apprentissage Chez Moi, is a comprehensive resource that will be continually updated for families and caregivers as they support students who are carrying on with their school year and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Goertzen. “This is a tool to supplement learning, but not to replace the impressive, quality work that teachers are continuing to do remotely for students across the province during this public health emergency.”
The My Learning at Home portal will go live online today, providing a resource designed to assist families in supporting the work of teachers as they continue to educate students. Available in English and French as well as for families in French immersion, My Learning at Home will grow over time as more resources are developed for kindergarten through Grade 12. In addition, supporting materials for adult learners and for early childhood years will be updated regularly.
“Learning can be done at home using computers and tablets, allowing parents and caregivers to enhance the education of students with family-centred resources,” said Goertzen. “However, teachers remain the primary guide in helping students learn and meet curriculum expectations. This online portal is another important tool for teaching and learning.”
Goertzen noted that parents, caregivers and students are encouraged to be curious and to continue seeking out learning resources.
The My Learning at Home/Mon Apprentissage Chez Moi portal can be found at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/mylearning/index.html.
The provincial Department of Education appreciates the continued assistance and collaboration of school division administrators and trustees, principals, teachers and support staff as they all work with families for the benefit of students across Manitoba during the suspension of in-school classes. Together, they are helping develop ways for Manitoba students to learn at home to complete the 2019-20 school year.
Meanwhile, the province continues to rely on the recommendations of the chief provincial public health officer during the pandemic, and encourages all Manitobans to engage in social distancing protocols and the three Ps – protect yourself, protect your loved ones and protect your community. For more information 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.
