Canada: Authorities to impose enhanced COVID-19 restrictions in Winnipeg October 19 /update 27

Event

Health officials in Manitoba province have announced that additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions will be imposed on the city of Winnipeg from Monday, October 19. Bars and casinos will close for two weeks and shops and restaurants will be required to operate at fifty percent capacity. Gatherings will be restricted to five people outside a household, down from ten previously. Although Manitoba has fewer total COVID-19 cases than other provinces, it currently has the highest rate of active cases per capita.

York region in Ontario province will also see additional measures on Monday, from when it will join Ottawa, Toronto, and Peel region in closing indoor dining, gyms, fitness centers, casinos, and other establishments. Bars, theatres, and restaurant dining were closed in Montreal and other areas of Quebec earlier in October.

As of Friday, October 16, health authorities in Canada have confirmed 195,825 cases of COVID-19, and 9776 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.