Super Bowl fans, Valentine’s Day revellers urged to keep fun to a minimum

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This article was published 03/02/2021 (2062 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans gathering for Super bowl touchdowns — as well as those hoping for a touchy Valentine’s Day — are being urged to respect the province’s COVID-19 restrictions.

The province’s trajectory is improving, but everyone must do their part to keep it that way — including football fans, cupid-struck singletons and children exchanging cards, Manitoba’s deputy chief public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said Wednesday.

“People need to stay home if they are sick. You need to continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, cough into your elbow,” Atwal said.

People planning to have visitors over to watch Sunday’s Super Bowl should take necessary precautions.

“Indoor group gatherings remain the two designated people you have chosen to come to your home,” he said. “No new people should be entering your home to watch the game.”

The same goes for Valentine’s Day and sexual activity, Atwal said.

“In a private residence, it’s got to be the two designated individuals that are allowed; those are orders,” Atwal said, with a slight, sheepish smile.

“Go outdoors, go out for a walk, try to distance (and) get to know someone,” he advised.

In classrooms, Atwal said children exchanging Valentine’s Day cards should wash their hands before and after, and avoid touching their face.

“If envelopes are being used, do not lick them,” Atwal said.

Ideally, a teacher can collect cards and distribute them, to avoid students coming close to each other.

Atwal said the level of success so far during the modest loosening of restrictions will determine further reopening steps, as current health orders are scheduled to expire late next week.

The province reported 126 new cases and three COVID-19 deaths Wednesday. They include two Winnipeg women, one in her 70s and one in her 80s, and a woman in her 90s connected to the outbreak at Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 835 COVID-19-related deaths.

Winnipeg reported 32 new infections Wednesday. The Northern Health Region reported 55, followed by Interlake-Eastern with 24, Southern Health-Sante Sud with eight and Prairie Mountain with seven.

The five-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is 6.9 per cent provincially and 3.9 per cent in Winnipeg. Labs performed 1,833 tests Tuesday.

A total of 260 patients were in hospital receiving treatment for COVID-19 as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, including 34 in intensive care. Of all COVID-19 patients, 105 people are considered infectious.

Atwal said the province is examining what services may be restored after the current restrictions expire Feb. 11, and will provide more information later this week.

Manitoba health officials have not detected any of the highly contagious mutant strains of the virus first detected in South Africa and the U.K.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead with the province’s COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force, said vaccine supply disruptions from the manufacturers will force the clinics in Winnipeg and Brandon to pause operations Feb. 15-17.

“Any appointments scheduled at those times are being rescheduled. But those second doses are still going to be administered within the recommended time frame,” Reimer said.

The province has declared outbreaks over at Lions Prairie Manor Personal Care Home in Portage la Prairie, and Actionmarguerite St. Joseph and Park Manor Personal Care Home in Winnipeg.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca