COVID-19 daily updates - Tuesday, May 5
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, May 5, 2020
1:09 p.m. One new COVID-19 case in Manitoba
Public health officials advise one new case of COVID-19 has been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today. The total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba is 282. In addition, a seventh death has been reported, a man in his 70s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region.
The data also shows:
• four individuals are currently hospitalized, with no individuals in intensive care;
• 37 active cases and 238 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is now seven.
As of yesterday, an additional 339 laboratory tests were performed. This brings the total number of tests performed since early February to 27,775.
Public health officials are aware of a small cluster of five cases at a workplace in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Affected staff and their close contacts are self-isolating and public health officials are working with these patients to undertake detailed contact tracing. Officials are working co-operatively with the company to test other workers who may have been exposed and to implement sanitization protocols at the worksite. If public health officials believe there is an increased risk to the public, additional information will be provided.
Restoring Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for Recovery is available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/. Updates have been made to this document to clarify inconsistencies between the plan and the recent public health orders. 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.
11:16 a.m. Manitoba announces COVID-19 financial support for seniors
The province is extending $45 million in direct financial support to Manitoba seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic through the new Seniors Economic Recovery Credit that will deliver a $200 tax credit to each recipient, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.
“Senior citizens across the province are facing increased financial hardships because they now have to pay extra for grocery deliveries, or purchasing and learning to use technology at home so they can communicate with their family members and the loved ones they miss,” said Pallister. “Manitobans are working together to navigate this challenging time and seniors throughout our province deserve our help and support.”
Created through an expansion of the Manitoba Protection Plan for the public health crisis, the Seniors Economic Recovery Credit will provide every Manitoban aged 65 and older with a one-time, refundable tax credit of $200. To ensure best use of the credit, the Department of Finance will proactively mail a payment cheque as a credit advance to each senior who filed a 2018 income tax return prior to April 1, 2020.
Seniors who have changed mailing addresses since the time of their 2018 tax filings will have an opportunity to update the Department of Finance on their address changes through a government web portal at www.manitoba.ca/seniorseconomicrecoverycredit. Those who do not receive a cheque, have not updated their addresses or are new residents of Manitoba will be able to receive the $200 credit when they file their 2020 income tax return.
Almost every senior across the province will receive the payment in May. The $200 credit will not be counted taxable as income and will not be used to claw back income-tested benefits to seniors, the premier noted.
“As we slowly and carefully begin the process of reopening of our province’s economy, this credit is putting $45 million directly into the hands of Manitobans as we move forward from COVID-19,” said Pallister. “Manitoba seniors deserve assistance during this pandemic. We can’t relieve all of their stress during these difficult times, but we can make it more affordable for them.”
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
