Province warns of possible COVID-19 exposure at Manitoba grocery store

WINNIPEG — Manitoba health officials are warning the public about possible exposure to COVID-19 at a Manitoba grocery store.

On Monday, the province said a person who tested positive for the virus visited the Sherwood Grocery Store in Gull Lake, Man., while they were symptomatic. The person went to the grocery on July 20 and 21.

The province noted anyone who is a close contact of someone with COVID-19 will be contacted and urged to self-isolate.

Anyone who was at a location where they could have potentially been exposed to the virus doesn’t need to self-isolate but should monitor for symptoms.

“We can’t say it enough to continue to have Manitobans be kind to each other,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, at a news conference on Monday.

“There’s no place for stigma or discrimination against people who may have acquired this or been in contact with it. Aside from being inappropriate, this does not help our efforts against COVID. It interferes with Public Health’s efforts, so be kind to Manitobans, don’t make judgements, listen to public health advice, to credible advice and we’ll continue to get through this together.”

The province originally stated the person visited the store from July 19-21, which was disputed by Jeff Gallop, who owns Sherwood Grocery Store.

Gallop said the person was not in the store on July 19, and that their symptoms started on July 21, at which point they self-isolated and went in for testing.

The province changed the dates in its COVID-19 bulletin on Tuesday.

"Individuals may be contagious up to two days before symptoms appear. Symptoms appeared in the positive COVID-19 case on July 21 and risk to the public is low," a spokesperson from the province told CTV News in a written statement.

"The investigation is ongoing. When completed, additional information will be provided as needed to inform people of any public health risks."

Since March 12, there have been 405 cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba.