10 people tested, 0 cases confirmed: Manitoba insists local risk of coronavirus still low

Ten people have been tested for coronavirus in Manitoba, but the provincial government says there are no diagnosed cases in the province so far.

The risk of contracting the novel coronavirus remains low in the province, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief provincial health officer, stressed again during a media briefing Friday. 

"I think anytime you see a new virus like this it does instill that fear in individuals ... but if you look at the risk compared to influenza, certainly influenza risk is much higher to Manitobans right now," he said. 

Roussin said there was a range of ages for the 10 Manitobans who were tested for coronavirus. They displayed some symptoms of the virus and either recently returned from the country or been in contact with someone who had. 

He added that no person tested was at high risk of contracting the virus. He said they were examined out of an abundance of caution. 

The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the outbreak that started in China.

China has reported more than 30,000 cases and more than 600 deaths. Outside China, there are 270 cases reported in 24 countries and one death.

In Canada, seven cases have been reported — three in Ontario and four in British Columbia. Nobody has died.

To prevent the spread of the disease, the Public Health Agency of Canada is asking travellers who visited the areas of China where it originated — the city of Wuhan and Hubei province — to isolate themselves for 14 days after their arrival in Canada.

Travellers who returned from the rest of mainland China are asked to self-monitor themselves for two weeks.

If recent travellers from China develop a fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, they are urged to call their local urgent care centre or emergency department, the province said in a news release.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs preparing

Meanwhile, First Nation communities in Manitoba have been preparing for the novel coronavirus — just in case. 

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) held a meeting Thursday with government and health officials to ensure their emergency plans are suitable.

Leaders are remembering 2009 when three people from Garden Hill First Nation died of H1N1.

"We absolutely learned a lot from a decade ago, but we still have more to learn and we have more to do with respect to a public health response," Melanie Mackinnon, senior health advisor to AMC's grand chief, said.