Doctor Natalie Casaclang is one of the Northern Health Regions Medical Officers of Health. She says the north has had a consistently high testing rate compared to the rest of the province and as of July 6th they have done a little over five thousand tests.
That comprises about seven per cent of tests done in Manitoba.
Casaclang explains the health authority is using this time to prepare for a second wave of the virus in the fall. She says we know that flu season or respiratory illness season is coming and their symptoms are generally similar to COVID response and its hard to tell who has what if they have symptoms and Dr. Brent Roussin talked recently about how we’re going to treat this upcoming influenza season as COVID season until proven otherwise. She notes there’s lots of planning especially with community partners on how to scale up quickly our capacity if needed.
Casaclang adds the Northern Health Region currently has a three weeks supply of personal protective equipment on hand, which they are closely monitoring.
