COVID-19 daily updates - Friday, April 17

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COVID-19 daily updates - Friday, April 17

Details: Published on Friday, April 17, 2020

No new cases announced today in ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ

Public health officials advise no new cases of COVID-19 were identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, and the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ remains at 250.

The data also shows:
窶｢    eight individuals are currently hospitalized, which includes four individuals in intensive care;
窶｢    113 active cases and 132 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; and
窶｢    the number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at five.

Cadham Provincial Laboratory performed 508 tests Thursday. A total of 18,856 tests have been performed since early February.

The chief provincial public health officer has updated public health orders that take effect today and will be in effect until May 1. Some important clarifications have been made to the orders that were first announced April 16. Appliance stores and furniture stores that sell appliances may remain open to the public, providing social distancing measures are in place.

Additional clarification on the public health orders and the schedule of critical services can be found online at .

Assessment clinics for COVID-19 patients offer primary care services on an appointment basis for anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. In addition to the primary care space, these locations also serve as designated testing sites in a separate area at the site.

Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links窶的nfo Santﾃｩ at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required. For up-to-date information on community screening sites visit .

For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19 visit .

A comprehensive list of ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ government COVID-19 measures can be found at .

Province adds $300 million to COVID-19 support, relief

The ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ government is investing an additional $300 million to ensure the government can respond quickly to front-line health-care needs and protect vulnerable ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵns, Central Services Minister Reg Helwer announced today.

窶廾ur government has already fast-tracked $100 million in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 through our ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ Protection Plan,窶� said Helwer. 窶弋oday, we窶决e quadrupling our commitment to $400 million for the COVID-19 Procurement Fund to ensure our plan is effective and that we can continue to be proactive in the steps we take to protect ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵns during this pandemic.窶�

This investment will support outbreak planning, prevention and mitigation efforts, and allow the province to secure the supplies and resources needed to deliver the best care possible for ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ patients.

Funds are being used for purposes such as:
窶｢    purchasing significant amounts of essential medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment;
窶｢    developing hotel capacity for those requiring isolation;
窶｢    preparing for large-scale low acuity medical overflow for hospitals;
窶｢    supporting the local, made-in-ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ production of gowns, scrubs, gloves and other medical equipment including an RFP to award $15 million of production to ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ-designed reusable silicone N95 masks;
窶｢    providing training and grants to child-care experts to become entrepreneurs by opening their own small-scale daycares;
窶｢    establishing a COVID-19 research fund through Research ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ;
窶｢    providing a new digital online service for mental health support;
窶｢    creating  to link ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵns needing help with volunteers;
窶｢    engaging local call centre, 24-7 Intouch, to contact ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵns to drive awareness of government support programs to small businesses, charities and not-for-profits; and
窶｢    opening multiple provincewide testing sites to bolster the response to this health crisis.

窶弋his new investment continues to address the needs of our front-line health-care workers and patients,窶� said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen. 窶廾ur government is taking every step possible to protect ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ families and ensure people are able to get the care they need during this critical time.窶�

The ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ government has also undertaken a number of investments to provide immediate relief to ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵns facing financial challenges by deferring provincial fees and charges, funding support for child-care services for critical service providers and expanding shelter capacity to support people affected by homelessness, noted Helwer.

The province is asking manufacturers or businesses to visit the COVID-19 portal at  if:
窶｢    they can rapidly scale up production or re-tool manufacturing lines to develop products made in ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ to help in the fight against COVID-19; or
窶｢    they have a stock of personal protective equipment that is not being used due to closures and physical distancing.

In addition, ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ businesses can donate unused personal protective equipment supplies in original packaging, clean and in useable condition. More information can be found at .

For more information about COVID-19 in ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ, visit and a comprehensive list of ﾋｮｹ鈹ﾓﾆｵ government COVID-19 measures can be found at .