The Chief Public Health Officer for Manitoba is announcing a boom of COVID-19 cases in the province.

According to Dr. Brent Roussin, there are 14 new confirmed and probable cases in Manitoba, bringing the provincial total to 35.

"As we've been seeing numbers increase in other jurisdictions, we have been preparing to see increased numbers here in Manitoba and so these increased numbers are not unexpected," Dr. Roussin says.

Eleven of the 14 new cases come from residents of Winnipeg, including a girl under the age of 10 and a woman in her 60s receiving treatment in intensive care in hospital.

Investigations are ongoing, but Dr. Roussin notes at this point it appears most of the new cases are connected to travel or through contact of previously announced cases.

In total, Manitoba now has 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 24 probable cases. One probably positive case previously announced on March 23 was retested and determined to be negative on March 24.

Public health officials strongly advise all Manitobans, including health-care providers, to cancel or postpone any non-essential travel. This includes international travel and travel within Canada. The province adds there should also be no recreational, tourist or non-essential personal travel. In addition, public health officials recommended that effective March 23, anyone who returns from international or domestic travel should self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following their return.

This recommendation does not include:

  • the commercial transportation of goods and services
  • workers who live in a neighbouring jurisdiction and travel to Manitoba for work
  • health care workers who travel to work from outside the province
  • normal personal travel in border communities, including visits to a cottage

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.