Roussin asks Manitobans to find hope in ability during pandemic

Winnipeg's chief medical officer says "we have never been helpless" against COVID-19 and is asking Manitobans to care for others by staying home.

Dr. Brent Roussin says that with the current trajectory, Manitoba could see thousands of more COVID-19 cases by the end of the week. While this is a possibility, he says there is a reason to stay positive.

"As far as hope goes, I think we know exactly what we can do. If we look at ourselves, and the loved ones around us, we can reduce our risk, right now, today."

Reducing contacts to as low as possible is one of the most important factors for reducing the spread of COVID-19.

"We can stay home, certainly when we are ill, we can limit our contact with people outside of our household," Roussin says.

He is emphasizing that Manitobans can take control of the virus by doing this, and following other fundamentals such as frequent hand washing and wearing a mask when outside.

"We have actions, right now, that we can take. We have never been helpless." Roussin says Manitobans need to go back to the basics of the pandemic. "That is why when I say 'we have left the virus off the hook' the virus is not being transmitted in some manner that we were not aware of or something that we did not prepare for."

The doctor says that while many Manitobans have been following the fundamentals, the ones that have not are spreading it throughout the community.

For those feeling hopeless watching the numbers climb, Roussin says they are not powerless to the pandemic.

"We are not helpless. We have the ability, right now, to reduce the transmission of this virus. That is something people can take into their own hands right now, today."