Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin has announced to more closely align schools and early learning child care centres COVID-19 guidance notification of close contacts by child care centres will no longer be required.  He says attendance of children and staff will be based on symptom screening.  He explains child care providers should continue to monitor daily for symptoms before attending either a child care centre or a home based child care facility.  He says children or staff exposed to COVID-19 in the child care and school setting may continue to attend if they remain asymptomatic but again very close monitoring for symptoms.  He adds child care centres will monitor absenteeism and numbers of positive test results reported by staff and families and if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 in a cohort they can connect with a local public health officer for additional guidance.

The guidance will take effect this Friday.