Health-related information
 
COVID-19 pandemic
We will be sending out a daily COVID-19 update during this time to ensure that Manitoba farmers have up to date information on the spread and scope of the pandemic. Our regular KAP Alert will continue to be published on Wednesday.
 
Manitobans are reminded to call Health Links (1-888-315-9257) should you believe you have come into contact with COVID-19. You do not need to be tested if you are not experiencing symptoms. At this time, Manitobans are best served by listening to public health professionals, enacting social distancing protocols, ensuring that handwashing is taking place regularly, and ensuring that adequate supplies are on-hand without hoarding or over purchasing. We will all get through this together.
 
Number of cases: 20 (confirmed and presumptive) as of Monday March 23
 
Mental health during COVID-19
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has put together a useful resource on how to process significant changes to your daily life and how to deal with your mental health during this time. Click here to access those tools and resources. The Farm, Rural, and Northern Support Services Line is available by phone at 1-866-367-3276. Manitobans struggling with anxiety can call the Never Give Up Manitoba support line at 204-925-0040 between the hours of 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on weekends.
 
Interprovincial travel
Public health officials are strongly advising all Manitobans, including health-care providers, to cancel or postpone any non-essential travel.  This includes international travel and travel within Canada.  There should be no recreational, tourist or non-essential personal travel.  In addition, effective immediately, public health officials are recommending that anyone who returns from travel, either international or domestic, should self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following their return.
 
Provincial state of emergency
Manitoba is under a province-wide state of emergency. This order limits public gatherings of 50 or more people, including retail businesses, hospitality premises like bars and restaurants, and the closure of all wellness facilities including gyms and fitness centres.
 
Screening tool
Shared Health’s online screening tool is available and is the recommended first step that Manitobans should take prior to calling Health Links or attempting to visit a doctor’s office. Click here to access the online screening tool.
 
Testing facilities
A reminder that all testing facilities are to be accessed by referral from Health Links. The provincial government has announced more rural testing sites will be open in the coming days. Testing facilities at this time are:
 

Town	Facility	Address	Hours of Operation
Winnipeg	Access Fort Garry	135 Plaza Drive	Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Weekends, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
	Access Winnipeg West	280 Booth Drive
	Access Transcona	845 Regent Avenue West
	Mount Carmel Clinic	886 Main Street
Thompson	Thompson Clinic	Plaza Mall	Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Flin Flon	Channing Auditorium	2 North Avenue
The Pas	Guy Hall	28 First St. West
Brandon	Brandon Regional Health Centre, Nurses' Residence Gym	150 McTavish Ave E	Daily 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Selkirk	Drive-Thru Community Testing Site	622 Superior Avenue	Daily 9:00AM to 4:00PM
Steinbach	Drive-Thru Community Testing Site	365 Reimer Ave	Daily 9:00AM to 3:00PM
Winnipeg	Drive-Thru Community Testing Site	15 Barnes St.	Daily 10:00AM to 6:00PM

 
Hospital visits
To protect the health of patients, staff and volunteers, visitor access at all Manitoba hospitals has been suspended. Exceptions for compassionate reasons will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis but will adhere to vigilant screening. One visitor per patient may be admitted with the approval of individual facility managers in some departments. For pediatric patients, one parent or guardian will be allowed to visit at a time following screening.
 
Industry-specific information
 
Prime Minister’s announcement on support for agriculture industry
Yesterday, the federal government announced $5 billion in additional lending capacity through Farm Credit Canada. This was announced as an immediate measure, and we will provide more information if and when we receive it. In addition, all eligible farmers who have an outstanding Advance Payments Program (APP) loan due on or before April 30 will receive a Stay of Default, allowing them an additional six months to repay the loan. This important measure, which represents $173 million in deferred loans, will help keep more money in farmers’ pockets during these critical months. The Stay of Default will also provide farmers the flexibility they need to manage their cashflow when facing lower prices or reduced marketing opportunities. Applicable farmers who still have interest-free loans outstanding will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $100,000 interest-free portion for 2020-2021, as long as their total APP advances remain under the $1 million cap. Click here to read the full announcement.
 
Canadian Federation of Agriculture survey
CFA is operating a farm-level survey of members to better understand the issues facing the agriculture industry during the outbreak of COVID-19. This week’s survey closes at 11:00am on Thursday March 23. Click here to access the survey.  
 
Elevator office closures and grading disputes
Under the Canada Grains Act, producers have the right to see grain being graded and weighed. Given the extraordinary circumstances, most elevators have closed their offices and have required producers to stay in the truck and on the driveway. Producers should exercise their judgement, and in the event of a grading dispute, should request a 1000-gram sample be retained at time of delivery and submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission. If producers feel they are not being treated fairly, they should contact CGC compliance officer Corey Birch at corey.birch@grainscanada.gc.ca.
 
Livestock auctions
The Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association has decided that all auction markets in Manitoba will continue to host regular commercial cattle sales. All auction markets will have restricted access to sale barns and live commercial cattle auctions. Access will be restricted to essential persons needed to conduct sales, including staff, order buyers, and livestock inspection personnel. The general public will not be allowed admittance, including consignors or truck drivers. Truckers will be able to pick up their loading instructions at the loading docks after the sale.
 
Message from CFA
CFA president Mary Robinson has put together a weekly message for the agriculture industry. Click here to read the message.
 
Agri-HR toolkit
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has made their AgriHR toolkit available free of charge for producers. Based on years of research and field testing conducted in Canada and internationally, this toolkit offers everything you need to improve your people-management skills and develop key resources to help you find, retain, and support your employees. Click here to access and use discount code COVID-19 to access the toolkit for free. CAHRC has also created a factsheet on COVID-19. Click here to access their factsheet.
 
CASA courses free of charge for farmers and producers
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is making two online courses available free of charge to producers. These courses are available for any farm owner, operator, or worker to best prepare new and seasonal workers on the farm. For more information, click here.
 
KAP office
The KAP office is closed to outside visitors at this time. Many KAP staff are working from home and are following social distancing protocols. We will provide more information as this situation evolves.
 
KAP spring Advisory Council meeting
The KAP advisory council meeting scheduled for April 9 has been cancelled due to social distancing protocols. At this time, we do not have a new date scheduled for this meeting, but we will be in touch as new developments arise. Please check this space and check social media for further updates.
 
District meetings
KAP districts may be interested in holding meetings at this time to discuss issues facing the industry. The KAP office has the capability to host both conference calls and Zoom video meetings. Please contact Patty at patty.rosher@kap.ca should you be interested in scheduling a district meeting.
 
Issues from KAP members
We are working with the provincial government on a regular basis and working with the federal government through the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. We have already heard from members on the issues of seasonal workers and access to farm labour, testing concerns with Manitoba Public Insurance, processing capacity issues in the event of a broader outbreak in the province, and business risk management. If there are issues you think need to be raised with both levels of government, please contact Joey at joey.dearborn@kap.ca.
 
Prescription Safety Eyewear Program
At this time, Rizal Optical on McPhillips in Winnipeg and Horizon Eyecare on Portage Ave in Winnipeg will remain open until further notice. Please call ahead to discuss safety protocols in place for visits.
 
Updates from organizations
 Message from Richardson International
Message from HyLife
Message from Maple Leaf Foods
Message from Simplot