Manitoba health officials have released more information about the province's latest reported case of COVID-19.
Chief provincial health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced no new cases May 19, but noted a case of COVID-19 was detected over the May long weekend.
The person who tested positive over the weekend was described by Roussin as a worker at a Winnipeg-area Walmart. Roussin shared when the person had worked and that they were not able to link the case to travel or a previously detected case.
鈥淲e know the virus is still here,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a return to normal. We could see an upward trend if we let up on our precautions.鈥�
Roussin noted the risk of the public catching the virus from the Walmart worker was low.
鈥淒uring the contact investigation and review with the [individual], there weren't opportunities with close, prolonged contact with customers,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat makes it low risk - certainly not zero risk and that鈥檚 why we announced it.鈥�
Roussin also hinted the maximum group gathering size might be increased later this week. Manitoba residents can only gather in groups of 10. The province鈥檚 current reopening plan is set to move into phase two as early as June 1.
Travel to and from the north will likely be restricted for the rest of the month, but Roussin didn鈥檛 rule out tweaking the orders.
鈥淲e know remote, isolated communities are susceptible to outbreaks and severe outcomes, should the virus get there,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking at the balance between protecting the economy and protecting the health of Manitobans.鈥�
No new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Northern Health Region since April 8. Any symptomatic Manitoban is eligible to be tested and does not need a referral to get tested.
