Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced the latest COVID-19 numbers this afternoon. He reports there are no new cases so the total number remains at 300, no individuals are hospitalized, 286 individuals have recovered and there are seven active cases.

             

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team in partnership with the First Nations Inuit Health Branch have deployed four GeneXpert machines to be used by health care providers in Thompson, The Pas, Norway House Cree Nation and Peguis First Nation to supplement COVID-19 testing already being conducted.  The machine can provide test results in as little as an hour and will be used to quickly confirm the presence of the virus in those patients who may require support to self-isolate.  Only three people in northern Manitoba have tested positive for COVID-19.

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Saskatchewan is increasing the size of gatherings allowed for church services and graduation ceremonies.

The government says up to 150 people or one-third the capacity of a building, whichever is less, can attend church services, including weddings and funerals.

The province says outdoor graduations can be held with a maximum 30 graduates per class and an overall attendance of 150 people.

The previous limit was 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors.

Health officials have reported two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the province's total to 660.

Of those, 21 cases are active. (CP)