Manitoba Providing COVID-19 Information by Health Districts

August 14, 2020

More Detailed Information Will Increase Confidence of Manitobans in Their Geographical Areas: Friesen

The Manitoba government is now reporting COVID-19 cases based on smaller health districts to help connect Manitobans with more local information about COVID-19, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.

“Conveying information to Manitobans about COVID-19 in their districts will increase confidence and help them to feel more empowered to make decisions in their daily lives,” said Friesen. “This enhanced reporting will provide a more detailed picture of the pandemic and strikes an important balance between timely, regional information about COVID-19, and the need to protect privacy and prevent stigma.”

The province will update case numbers and other information based on 68 health districts, instead of the five regional health authorities. Health districts often include several communities and municipalities, and follow regional health authority boundaries. There are 13 districts in Prairie Mountain Health, 23 in Southern Health–Santé Sud, 15 in Interlake–Eastern Regional Health Authority, 15 in the Northern Regional Health Authority and two in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA). Churchill is part of the WHRA, but will be reported as its own area.

“This additional information allows Manitobans to stay informed on COVID at a more local level,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer. “Every Manitoban though, no matter where they live, must continue to follow the fundamentals to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

More detailed information about specific locations, including businesses, will continue to be released by public health only when there is a public health reason to do so.

To learn more about Manitoba’s new reporting system based on health districts, visit:
www.manitoba.ca/covid19.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications Services Manitoba: 204-945-3765.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-945-4916.

NT4