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This story will be updated when the press conference begins and throughout the conference as it runs.
Manitoba reported 40 new cases of the novel coronavirus Friday, tying the province’s record for the most cases reported in a single day.
The province hasn’t seen that many new new lab-confirmed and probable cases reported since April 2.
The new COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba Friday, bring the province’s total number of cases since March to 643.
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, says 25 of the cases are from the Prairie Mountain Health region, five are from southern Manitoba, and 10 are in Winnipeg.
He said preliminary investigations show the majority of the Prairie Mountain cases are linked to an ongoing outbreak in Brandon, where he says there has been early indication of community transmission is occurring.
He said 39 workers from Brandon’s Maple Leaf pork processing plant have now tested positive for the virus.
As for the 10 cases in Winnipeg — where 27 new cases have been identified since Tuesday — Roussin said many appear to be travel related or a close contact to a known case, although he said there is evidence of community spread in Manitoba’s largest city as well.
As of Friday morning Manitoba had 246 active known cases, with nine people in hospital, including three who are in intensive care with the virus. Eight Manitobans have died from COVID-19 since the first case was reported in the province in March and 389 have recovered.
Manitoba also reported it’s highest number of tests completed in a single day Thursday — 2,288 — bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 110,492.
Public health officials warned Friday of three recent potential exposures to COVID-19 including one at the Minnedosa Hospital Aug. 10.
They say other exposures are possible at the Sobey’s on 18th Street in Brandon Aug. 7, and the Cartwright Town and Country Golf Club, just west of Cartwright, Man. Aug. 9.
Officials say the risk of transmission is low, but anyone who was at the locations during the specified days should get tested if symptoms appear.
The new cases come after the province unveiled more details about plans to have students return to the classroom in September Thursday.
Under the plan, face masks will be “strongly recommended” but not mandatory for students and staff.
Schools will reopen in Manitoba on Sept. 8, with teachers and staff returning Sept. 2 to get ready.
Under the practice guidance and protocols unveiled Thursday, students in grades 5 to 12, as well as staff and others in schools, are recommended to wear non-medical masks in common areas and where physical distancing isn’t possible.
The province says younger students can also use non-medical masks if they or their parents or caregivers choose, but masks should not be worn by anyone who is unable to remove them without help or by anyone with breathing difficulties.
Read more:
Masks ‘strongly recommended’ but not mandatory in Manitoba’s updated back-to-school plans
All students Grade 5 and up, and bus drivers, will be required to wear masks on school buses.
On Thursday Roussin said masks are “an important tool” in fighting coronavirus, but “not the only tool,” although he said a mandatory mask rule isn’t off the table for schools. He said physical distancing and handwashing are also important.
–More to come.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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