COVID-19 daily updates - Thursday, Aril 16
- Details
- Published on Thursday, April 16, 2020
1:08 p.m. Four new cases announced in Manitoba, total cases now 250
Public health officials advise four new cases of COVID-19 were identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 250.
The data also shows:
• eight individuals are currently hospitalized, which includes four individuals in intensive care;
• 124 active cases and 121 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at five.
Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 449 tests Wednesday. A total of 18,349 tests have been performed since early February.
The chief provincial public health officer has updated public health orders that take effect on April 17, and will be in effect until May 1, 2020. They mandate that anyone entering Manitoba, regardless of whether it was from another country or another province must self-isolate for 14 days. In addition, travel to northern Manitoba (north of the 53rd parallel of latitude) is prohibited with some exceptions including:
• residents of northern and remote communities may continue to move within the north;
• delivery of goods and services may continue; and
• exceptions include those who travel to the north for employment, medical treatment or to facilitate child-custody agreements.
The new orders build on the current orders, and maintain the gathering size of no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor premises. Additional updates include:
• a clarification that businesses not listed as critical may operate, and have customers attend to pick up ordered items, providing social distancing measures are in place;
• a provision to allow farmers markets to operate, providing social distancing measures are in place;
• hotels may operate, but must close common areas such as pools, hot tubs and game rooms;
• campgrounds can provide accommodation to recreational vehicles that act as a primary residence;
• garden centres and greenhouses can operate, providing social distancing measures are in place; and
• appliance, electronic and furniture stores are excluded, and should not be open to the public, except where orders are placed remotely and orders are delivered or picked up with social distancing measures in place.
The following restrictions remain in place as they were with previous orders:
• All restaurants and other commercial facilities are prohibited from serving food to customers in their premises. This prevents eat-in dining at all facilities. However, restaurants and other commercial facilities can prepare and serve food for delivery or takeout. If this takes place, the operator of the restaurant must ensure that all people maintain the appropriate social distancing from other customers when picking up food.
• All businesses that are not listed in the schedule of critical services that accompanies the order must remain closed.
- This closure order does not prevent these businesses from operating on a remote basis.
- A business may accept orders on the internet or over the phone for delivery or pickup, as long as the employees are not working at the place of business.
- The order does not prevent employees or others from coming into the business to perform repairs, to provide security services or to take out items from the business premises if the business is going to operate on a remote basis.
- Nothing in the order restricts the operations of delivery of services by the federal or provincial governments or a municipality.
- Nothing in the order restricts any activities of a publicly funded agency, organization or authority that delivers or supports government operations or services including health-care services. This means the order does not affect institutions, agencies and other service providers offering health-care services such as hospitals, regional health authorities and private agencies that provide a range of health services.
In addition, public health officials are expanding testing criteria to include:
• all symptomatic workers or volunteers at workplaces that have been identified as essential services; and
• any symptomatic person who lives with a health-care worker, first responder or worker in a congregate setting such as a correctional facility, shelter, long-term care or residential facility.
Current testing parameters include people with symptoms who have travelled outside Manitoba in the past 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, first responders and individuals who live/work in the north, a remote or isolated community, or congregate setting.
Assessment clinics for COVID-19 patients offer primary care services on an appointment basis for anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. In addition to the primary care space, these locations also serve as designated testing sites in a separate area at the site.
Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required. For up-to-date information on 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
The full list of public health orders and the schedule of critical services can be found online at www.manitoba.ca/covid19/soe.html.
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
11:26 a.m. Internet therapy program to help with COVID-19 anxiety live now
A digital cognitive behavioural therapy program to support the mental health of Manitobans and help address anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is now up and running, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.
“We recognize many Manitobans are living with anxiety and stress posed by this pandemic,” said Pallister. “Our government is committed to helping Manitobans navigate this challenging and unprecedented time. You are not alone, we will get through this together.”
The AbilitiCBT program is a free and confidential virtual-therapy platform and has proven to be one of the most effective and efficient therapy methods available, the premier added.
As of this morning, close to 600 individuals have registered for the program, and are now using the virtual-therapy platform, with more signing up daily.
The program is guided by professional therapists and addresses mild to moderate anxiety symptoms related to the uniquely challenging aspects of pandemics:
• uncertainty,
• physical isolation,
• caring for family and community members,
• information overload, and
• stress management.
The program will help people:
• learn what anxiety is and how it affects their emotions, mind, body and behaviour;
• reduce anxiety by learning cognitive behavioral-therapy skills and using them to change responses to triggers; and
• develop coping strategies to track and reduce anxiety and better manage daily activities.
The premier noted people do not need to be referred to the program by a doctor, they can start at any time by completing the online assessment on the website.
Once people register online, they are asked to download an app, as well as to complete and submit a health-screening questionnaire. A therapist will reach out within three days to book an initial assessment by phone.
People will then complete 10 modules on the app at their own pace, while the therapist tracks and monitors progress. There will be scheduled check-ins along the way by phone, chat or through a video check-in to make sure people are getting the help they need.
The internet-based cognitive behavioural-therapy service is free of charge to all Manitobans 16 years old and over. Services are available in English and French. The program can be accessed at www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
Crisis mental-health services continue to be available through partner organizations in Manitoba at www.gov.mb.ca/health/mh/crisis.html.
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
