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COVID-19 general discussion - Part 2 (closed)

COVID-19 general discussion - Part 2 (closed)

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Prairie Mountain probable case
3/25/2020 at 12:13 PM

As per Government of Manitoba release today, 14 new probable Manitoba cases.

One of those cases is said to have been tested in the Prairie Mountain Health region, which would be the first in the health region that includes Brandon. It shouldn't be immediately assumed that the case is Brandon. The release doesn't disclose what city/town the case is in, with Prairie Mountain Health covering the area shown in this map.

In addition to the Prairie Mountain case, 11 of the new probable cases are Winnipeg (including one in intensive care) and 2 in Southern Health region.

From the release, public health investigations are underway to confirm additional details and confirm the possible exposure of new cases.

For more information in today's release please read:
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47237
Stormwatcher
Joined: This month
Posts: 13

Stormwatcher
Joined: This month
Posts: 13

First Child Case in Manitoba
3/25/2020 at 12:37 PM

The province is reporting the first child who has contracted the virus, a girl under the age of 10 in Winnipeg.
Moussa3Trena
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 403

Moussa3Trena
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 403

PMH
3/25/2020 at 1:45 PM

Will they release age and location at some point? I hope it wasn’t Brandon but let’s pretend it is and stay home!!!!
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

yes/no
3/25/2020 at 1:57 PM

As per any other health region outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba Health will post age and gender, but will not post location.
Johnbisonbear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4183

Johnbisonbear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4183

today
3/25/2020 at 3:02 PM

curlysister said "As per any other health region outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba Health will post age and gender, but will not post location. "
for the person in the PMH region neither age or gender were listed. Other regions like the south which is smaller than PM lists the gender and the age. I wonder why?
Dange
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 252

Dange
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 252

Just assume
3/25/2020 at 3:17 PM

It is here and stay home. We are in the community transmission phase, assuming that all travellers have self isolated on returning. If we stay home now the community transmission will be minimal.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Communities
3/25/2020 at 3:38 PM

From what I can tell the disclosure in accordance with the Personal Health Information Act will be:
- Health Authority
- Gender
- Age

Winnipeg having its own Healthy Authority will be in a different situation than Brandon in that regard.

I have a level of trust that if there was an anomaly of cases specific to any given community they would be sharing that information in the public interest. Whether the Prairie Mountain case announced today was Brandon or not one case does not an outbreak make but should be enough to remind us that no city or town is immune to COVID-19 and that we all need to take social distancing measures seriously.

Knowing that this is the way it will be going forward, I suspect some will have the natural inclination toward rumours. Please continue to hold folks to being factual and call out situations where rumours are being shared in place of facts.
Mr E Of The Century
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 108

Mr E Of The Century
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 108

Not sure if my answer will help or not, but
3/25/2020 at 5:04 PM

Johnbisonbear said "for the person in the PMH region neither age or gender were listed. Other regions like the south which is smaller than PM lists the gender and the age. I wonder why? "
For those asking about why certain information has not been released: Releasing the information about the age, gender, or location of an infected individual would not change the outcome. The key to protecting our individuals and communities is by following the advice and recommendations from the many professionals and leadership of our healthcare community. Following proper, informed information regarding safety measures such as isolation, distancing, and most importantly, proper hygiene and infection control practices recommend by the region, will do far more to reduce transmission.

An individuals personal health information needs to be protected, and they have the right to privacy.
If information about an infected persons specific location is released, it does nothing more than spread rumours, panic and fear in that region, contributing to the problem we have with the health care system being overburdened unnecessarily by panicked people who may be using up hospital and financial resources by being tested, which is time that would be better spent devoting those resources to clients who truly are exhibiting actual symptoms, and treating them, and those suffering from more severe acute cases. Also, if someone who just has a regular flu goes in for testing, the chance of them infecting others with influenza is increased so it's best to limit contact from those individuals. Our time is better used to treat those who actually need it right now.

I don't necessarily agree with the province releasing the Winnipeg region information, but that is just their initiative at this point. What the province releases about other regions such as PMH may be different, and we have to support that leadership decision, as it is made in our best interest as individuals. Protective procedures and protocols are in place for a reason, and if it changes, we will be notified appropriately.

Regardless of what city or region we are all in, just follow proper provincial guidelines when determining if you need to be tested by contacting health links, and for the rest of us, follow the advice of proven infection control recommended actions that proper leaders and individuals in the province give us to help control the outcome.

Stating a person's location will never help as much as taking preventative measures does. How we react with reasoning during our times of struggle is what current and future generations will learn from us. Always remember that.
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

information
3/25/2020 at 5:31 PM

It seems that the Manitoba provincial corona-19 update website no longer shows numbers of cases broken down by Regional Health Authority districts.

It’s disappointing that our province considers this information either a) not important enough to be mentioned or b) so imortant that it must be repressed. Either/or/both is worrying.

I just wish ‘they’ would be up front with us. Most of us older than 50 can handle the truth.
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

info
3/25/2020 at 5:35 PM

plane watcher said "It seems that the Manitoba provincial corona-19 update website no longer shows numbers of cases broken down by Regional Health Authority districts.

It’s disappointing that our province considers this information either a) not important enough to be mentioned or b) so imortant that it must be repressed. Either/or/both is worrying.

I just wish ‘they’ would be up front with us. Most of us older than 50 can handle the truth. "
Maybe because it's spreading everywhere and the breakdown is not that important anymore?

I know data-driven people who were doing modeling etc were getting annoyed as that seems to be a common practice once you reach a certain level to stop disclosing so much information and just roll it into summaries.
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

yes
3/25/2020 at 6:21 PM

Yes, the MB Health site still shows the breakdown of cases:

https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47237
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
3/26/2020 at 10:11 AM

Honestly i understand the need for privacy but PMH has always taken a more of a conservative approach then other RHAs in regards to how they interpret the PHIA act. When I read the act I see no reason why they cannot release the age/gender and rough location, say southern PMH ect, since PMH is a large area. Obviously other Health Authorities interpret the act slightly different and thus release that info but PMH errors on the side of caution, as their directors belive is correct, and altho I would like to have a rough idea I am proceeding like people are carriers when ever i have to be out

As well, Public Health will contact you if it is believed you have been in contact with a known positive, say at church or something, or like they announced positives on certain flights
Iceman69
Joined: This month
Posts: 513

Iceman69
Joined: This month
Posts: 513

yes
3/26/2020 at 10:48 AM

they should be atleast release the location and if it's travel related to community transmission related would be nice.

I personally dont care whether it's male or female or age.
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
3/26/2020 at 10:56 AM

Iceman14 said "they should be atleast release the location and if it's travel related to community transmission related would be nice.

I personally dont care whether it's male or female or age. "
last i have heard they are only testing if you have traveled, maybe if you need hospitalization too, but hard not to be travel related if they are not testing others

I also agree with you on Gender but I kinda want to know age range, not sure why it matters but to me id like to know. Where about would be nice but if the case is say Minto or Douglas ect it likley gives away too much personal health info even tho if its in a relativity small town likley everyone knows anyway but still not the RHAS place
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

privacy
3/26/2020 at 11:10 AM

The RHA may release further information as it becomes available (ie- travel related or not). Cases 'under investigation' mean that more information is still being gathered.
However, they will follow privacy laws, whether the public feels it would be 'nice to know' or not.
Millenial
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 212

Millenial
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 212

-
3/26/2020 at 11:19 AM

As cases increase, age, gender, and origin of the illness become less relevant to the public. The bottom line is that we are in the midst of a pandemic and locally, quite a few people are failing to take it seriously.

If people don't know where the virus is, they can no longer freely justify the backwards rationale that "it isn't in Brandon yet!" Realistically, it probably is.

The reality is that none of us are immune to Covid 19, and everyone needs to be taking this seriously. The grocery store isn't a place for you to have fun and rub elbows with your friends just because it is open. You don't know if the cashier has a child with an immunodeficiency, you don't know if the merchandiser's significant other has asthma. If we want things to go back to normal we NEED to heed the warnings and protect each other.

Chances are that testing is behind, and that the number of cases that we have presented publicly do not reflect the true situation.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Case numbers
3/26/2020 at 11:40 AM

plane watcher said "It seems that the Manitoba provincial corona-19 update website no longer shows numbers of cases broken down by Regional Health Authority districts.

It’s disappointing that our province considers this information either a) not important enough to be mentioned or b) so imortant that it must be repressed. Either/or/both is worrying.

I just wish ‘they’ would be up front with us. Most of us older than 50 can handle the truth. "
In today's media release they've gone as far as saying that the one new probable case today lives in Winnipeg so it doesn't look like there's any pullback in case location disclosures:
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47277
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

thank you
3/26/2020 at 12:41 PM

Thank you Curlysister and Adam, for pointing out that the province continues to 'detail' individual cases in their regular press releases. I missed that. My bad.

The province had been summarizing RHA totals-to-date in one place - but I can live with the raw day-to-day stats. At least we know.

The Sask. and N.D. Corvid-19 websites (as referred by Adam above) come across as much more intuitively informative than does Manitoba's website. ND reports on the basis of county and Sask graphs on the basis of region.
Happy_ Hour
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 918

Happy_ Hour
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 918

No cash policy
3/27/2020 at 7:13 AM

I would not be surprised in time to see stores taking only tap debit transactions. No cash because so many hands touch it.

I have always hated dealing with cash. It's disgusting.
Bass-ic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 217

Bass-ic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 217

No cash policy
3/27/2020 at 8:51 AM

Happy_ Hour said "I would not be surprised in time to see stores taking only tap debit transactions. No cash because so many hands touch it.

I have always hated dealing with cash. It's disgusting. "
Safeway this morning not taking cash, but filling bags you bring in.
Makes it bit tougher for those of us that use cash only.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Community-level information
3/27/2020 at 9:01 AM

This link is from BC but wanted to use as an example of how more location-specific data is being used in the response to COVID-19 in a province where the virus has progressed further than we’ve seen here to date. At the link there was a case at a specific grocery store pharmacy in Kamloops, BC in which they identify the exact store and ask anyone visiting on certain dates to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms:
https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-295306-48-.htm#295306

There’s been some talk in this thread about knowing more about cases at the community level. In the case of the Kamloops notice the focus isn’t on identifying the patient so much as the potential exposure, very similar to what we’re seeing here with notices about effected flights. In the event cases of community spread end up being confirmed here (which to be clear, none have as of now) I wouldn’t be surprised to see similar notices if deemed in the public interest and the interest of limiting spread.
ram1952
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 114

ram1952
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 114

Information
3/27/2020 at 9:03 AM

I personally believe the Health Dept. is giving out to much information in regards to individuals testing positive for the virus. The public does not need to know the individuals age, gender or location, all we need to know is how many individuals have tested positive, how many have been hospitalized and how many have died. Its human nature for individuals to let their guard down and have a false sense of safety and security if there are no positive tests in their area, as a result people will not fully comply with the requests of the Health Dept. - using as their excuse "there is no positive tests or anyone sick in this area." Take a look around at your small towns as to how many drop in centers and senior centers are doing a booming business with coffee, shuffle board, pool and cards because there is no individuals who are showing signs of illness - thus giving the patrons a false sense of safety.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Cases
3/27/2020 at 11:41 AM

The topic of reporting came up in this morning's provincial media conference and it was said that when there's a report of a probable case, public health makes sure the individual is isolated, then do an extensive contact investigation, then reach out to those contacts and have them also self-isolate. It was said that the need to announce the circumstances of the individual has no benefit since the province has taken those steps.

If there was a case where they felt there was a number of contacts that had prolonged contact with the individual in a specific place where they would not be able to trace (not unlike the out-of-province example that I posted above earlier) then they would put that information out.
Moussa3Trena
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 403

Moussa3Trena
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 403

EIA
3/27/2020 at 2:30 PM

Superstore have line ups outside (This is because of EIA) The limit of 10 people for public gatherings does not apply to retail stores ……….
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
3/27/2020 at 4:59 PM

bdn438 said "Does anyone know yet if schools are set to reopen on April 13th still or has that changed?

Also, I just came from superstore (have not been in two weeks and was in need of fresh produce) and it was PACKED. People waiting just to go down aisles. Most aisles were packed with people. I got in and out as quick as I could!! "
we got notice from our school that altho it hasent been announced they believe its unlikely kids will be going back on the 13th, I believe we will follow other provinces and be done for the year

Walmart was packed as well but to respond to the other posts I thought i was max 50 people and i did hear some speculation that they may start limiting people at the door if shoppers dont respect social distancing so while i get we all need stuff please at least try and stay back from each other
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Schools
3/27/2020 at 5:00 PM

bdn438 said "Does anyone know yet if schools are set to reopen on April 13th still or has that changed?

Also, I just came from superstore (have not been in two weeks and was in need of fresh produce) and it was PACKED. People waiting just to go down aisles. Most aisles were packed with people. I got in and out as quick as I could!! "
Officially right now it’s April 13 for schools, but based on Roussin’s comments during yesterday’s stream the Sun’s running a story today about the possibility of that April 13 date being extended further:
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/Schools-may-stay-closed-longer-569149441.html
FredFeb
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 892

FredFeb
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 892

No school
3/27/2020 at 6:23 PM

Trust me, schools over till September
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Limit
3/27/2020 at 6:24 PM

traveller said "we got notice from our school that altho it hasent been announced they believe its unlikely kids will be going back on the 13th, I believe we will follow other provinces and be done for the year

Walmart was packed as well but to respond to the other posts I thought i was max 50 people and i did hear some speculation that they may start limiting people at the door if shoppers dont respect social distancing so while i get we all need stuff please at least try and stay back from each other "
The new limit starting Monday is 10 for public gatherings, but it doesn’t apply to retail. Retail including grocery must make sure patrons can reasonably maintain a distance of at least 1 metre:
https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/2019_2020/orders-soe-min-letter-2020-03-27.pdf

The expectation of 1-2m distance has been in place since the State of Emergency declaration last week. People visiting stores tonight saying that wasn’t necessarily the case... or busy but spaced out?

Edited by Adam, 2020-03-27 18:31:22
Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

Grocery stores today
3/27/2020 at 6:40 PM

Don’t know if it was the same in all grocery stores today but the one I went to this afternoon was absolutely packed. Was hard to find the appropriate space in between customers. Lady at the til said it was because it was the end of the month. Yikes!
FredFeb
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 892

FredFeb
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 892

Skinny moon
3/27/2020 at 6:50 PM

Yes, it was because of eia and pension day. The limit of 10 starting Monday doesn’t apply to grocery stores