Provincial Health Minister Cam Friesen said today that the province is continuing to prepare for the potential arrival of coronavirus in Manitoba.

Friesen stated that the province is ensuring that health-care providers are aware of symptoms and implementing heightened precautions to detect, isolate and test for the virus.

“There have been no reported cases of novel coronavirus to date in Manitoba and the risk remains low at this time, but we must remain vigilant,” said Friesen. “Across the health system, 911 call operators, first responders, and front-line health-care staff have the information they need to identify symptoms and ensure all precautionary infectious disease protocols are in place.”

Patients visiting hospitals with fever and respiratory symptoms who travelled in the past two weeks to Wuhan, China, will be assessed for coronavirus.

Suspected and confirmed cases of novel coronavirus are required to be reported to Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer.

Only two Canadian cases of the virus have been confirmed. Due to precautionary reasons, two Manitoba patients with uncertain travel histories have been tested for the virus in recent days. Both tested negative for the virus and positive for the common cold.

Friesen stressed that the risk in Manitoba remains low.

“We remain hopeful that we will not see confirmed cases of the virus in our province, but we are prepared in the event it does,” said Friesen.

Ways to prevent measures include regular hands washing with soap and water.

Additional precautions include covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.