Pandemic response system debuts

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This article was published 20/08/2020 (1970 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba has launched a four-level pandemic response system — from critical to limited risk — to employ a far more surgical approach to dealing with COVID-19.

The #RestartMB Pandemic Response System will provide more detailed and localized information about the current risk of COVID-19 and the specific measures being taken to reduce its spread.

“This document provides clear advice to Manitobans; it’s responsive and it’s flexible,” Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said Wednesday during a technical briefing with reporters.

“It allows us to work at a provincial level, a regional level, even right down to a sector or to a specific business,” Roussin said.

For example, a specific restaurant could face increased restrictions, or even the entire sector should clusters be tied to restaurant dining throughout the province, he said.

The online tool allows public health officials to apply and effectively communicate with Manitobans specific changes and related pandemic containment measures.

“It really allows us to be better flexible and pointed on our response forward because we know we’re going to see periods like this where we get these spikes of cases,” Roussin said. “We can’t just revert back to wide-scale shutdowns each time we see that.”

The first of its kind in Canada, the pandemic response system is based on a series of COVID-19 indicators monitored by public health officials to give Manitobans a clear and detailed picture of the situation throughout the province at all times.

Those indicators include health-system capacity, public health capacity, risk of outbreaks in vulnerable settings and risk of importation of cases.

The four colour-coded response levels under the pandemic response system are:

• (Red) critical – community spread of COVID-19 is not contained and/or there are significant strains on the health-care system;

• (Orange) restricted – community transmission of COVID-19 is occurring, public health measures are being taken to manage the negative impact on human health and/or the health system;

• (Yellow) caution – community transmission of COVID-19 is at low levels; and

• (Green) limited risk – the spread of COVID-19 is broadly contained and a vaccine and/or effective treatment is available.

The system launched with a provincewide level of “caution,” meaning COVID-19 is still a threat across Manitoba, but community transmission levels are low.

At this level, the province is seeing community-based transmission, but it’s limited mostly to clusters, Roussin said.

“But we are watching places like Brandon, you know, where that may be a place where we have to implement (a higher risk level).”

Roussin noted municipalities have been satisfied to follow public health guidelines in dealing with COVID-19, rather than imposing their own measures, such as mandating face masks.

Essential services will remain up and running at all times, while following public health and workplace safety guidance. This includes health services, emergency services, utilities and essential goods transport.

Meanwhile, schools, child-care centres, post-secondary training and critical government services will remain open with delivery models adjusted to each response level.

The province is launching a campaign to make the public aware of the online system, including billboards.

Roussin said that will also alert out-of-province visitors to visit the website for information.

“We’re trying to get that message out to everyone who’s in Manitoba,” he said.

“Our pandemic response system was established to ensure that all Manitobans have the most current information so they can plan, they can prepare, they can keep themselves safe by following the fundamentals in the guidance from our public health officials,” Premier Brian Pallister said during a news conference later with Roussin.

The #RestartMB Pandemic Response System document can be accessed at manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html.

» brobertson@brandonsun.com