Manitoba establishes border checkpoints for COVID-19 protocol

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This article was published 27/03/2020 (2088 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Travellers returning to Manitoba by road or air are now receiving official information about the need for them to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Highway checkpoints and signs in the province’s two largest airports are part of the Manitoba government’s latest efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Five checkpoints along the borders with Ontario and Saskatchewan were put up Friday afternoon, staffed by masked-and-gloved provincial employees, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler told reporters during a teleconference Friday.

Since March 23, public health officials have recommended anyone returning from an international or inter-provincial trip should immediately isolate themselves in their homes for 14 days. There is evidence the COVID-19 virus can spread before an infected person shows any symptoms.

The province has been given feedback some people weren’t aware of those recommendations, Schuler said. “We just want to make sure that everyone gets access to this information so they don’t say, ‘I didn’t know.'”

A flagperson at each checkpoint is expected to stop all traffic, speak to motorists from a distance, and hand them printed information about the virus. The checkpoints, set up under the Public Health Act, won’t stop anyone from entering the province, and won’t collect any personal information about travellers or vehicles.

Travellers will be asked not to exit their vehicles at the checkstop.

Closing Manitoba’s borders is “not under discussion right now,” Schuler said.

“We believe that if Manitobans continue to comply like they are, that this is the best way to go about it. This gets the information out. We are finding there is amazing uptake on the requests. If we find that there is a problem with that, then we will take on other measures.”

All traffic, including long-haul truckers, will have to stop at the checkpoints, Schuler said.

“If you’re on two wheels or 18 wheels, you’re going to get one of these. So if you’re on a bicycle, a motorcycle, you name it… you come through on a horse, we’re going to hand you one of these and talk to you about: you must do a 14-day self-isolation.”

The checkpoints have been established at what provincial officials have deemed the busiest current border crossings, even with a “drastic” decline in traffic, Schuler said.

Along the Ontario border, there is a checkpoint at West Hawk Lake/Falcon Lake.

There are four locations along the Saskatchewan border: Trans-Canada Highway (west of Kirkella/Elkhorn/Virden); Provincial Trunk Highway 16 (west of Russell); PTH 5W (west of Roblin); and PTH 2 (west of Sinclair/Reston/Souris).

Signs warning returning travellers will also be posted at the Winnipeg and Brandon airports.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay