Update: One additional presumptive positive case of COVID-19 has been identified in Manitoba, for a total of eight cases.

At this time, it appears all cases were exposed to the virus through recent travel.

Case eight is a man in his 80s who lives in Winnipeg. Patient contact and public health investigations are ongoing.

Dr. Brent Roussin Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer stresses that only people who have symptoms or are returning from international travel need to be tested. "No one without symptoms should be tested for COVID-19. Please do not attend for testing if you have no symptoms. Employers should not send staff for testing for COVID-19 if they do not have symptoms and health care workers should decline to test people without symptoms for COVID-19."

Dr. Roussin says while schools will be closed for an extended period of time, licensed child care facilities remain open for the present time. However, effective immediately, only one visitor per patient at a time is allowed in acute care facilities, such as hospitals, across Manitoba. This does not apply to parents of children in hospital.

Public health officials are strongly advising all Manitobans, including health-care providers, to cancel or postpone any non-essential international travel. In addition, public health officials are recommending all international travellers self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after returning to Canada.