Manitoba goes 3 days without new COVID-19 case

Manitoba has gone three days straight without a new case of COVID-19 being identified.

The number of active cases remains at 17 on Monday, and no one is being treated for the illness in hospital.

Seven people have died from COVID-19, while 268 people have recovered.

Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussinsaid the two latest cases,announced Friday, were connectedto theSouthdaleWalmart employee.

• Newest COVID-19 patient worked at Southdale Walmart on May 9, Dr. Brent Roussin says

The employee, a man in his 40s, had last worked at the Walmart on Lakewood Boulevard on May 9 from 4-9 p.m.

Roussin hinted Monday that further relaxing of pandemic-related health rules will come soon, with details to be announced later this week. Roussinalso hopes to announce a firm date for Phase 2 this week, he said.

Gathering sizes were allowed to increase to 25 indoors and 50 outdoors on Friday, although Roussin continues to advise physical distancing between people from different households.

Nearly 39,000 COVID-19 tests have been done in Manitoba, after 343 were conducted on Sunday.

There have been three cases identified in Manitoba in the past two weeks.

In the past seven days, 336 health-care workers and first responders were tested for the illness.

Since the pandemic hit Manitoba, 26 health-care workers have tested positive for COVID-19 without travelling, but 25 have recovered and were cleared to return to work, said Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer of Manitoba Shared Health.

The province reviewed the COVID-19 data last week. The review found that three health-care workers had in fact contracted the virus while travelling, Siragusa said at Monday's provincial briefing on COVID-19.

The number of health-care workers who caught COVID-19 while travelling went from eight to 11.

New wellness phone line

There's a new hotline for people living with a developmental disability trying to cope during the pandemic, Siragusa announced Monday.

"At the best of times, we know that people with [disabilities] must manage stress and anxiety. A pandemic adds to that stress, as they deal with the changes or disruption to the services that they require," she said.

The new phone line, developed by St. Amant, will help those people, as well as their families, she said. St. Amantis a non-profit organization that runs programs and services for people with developmental disabilities and autism and their families.

It will be open Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The operators have been trained to listen, share resources and give advice on how best to cope or where to find needed resources, Siragusa said.

The Winnipeg number is 204-258-7076, but people outside the capital can call toll-free at 1-877-858-7076.

WATCH | Full news conference on COVID-19 | May 25, 2020:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: May 25

4 years ago

Duration 41:36

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Monday, May 25, 2020.

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