Full statement on CEO travel

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Published Friday, March 27, 2020

Clinical and system leaders from across the province have been involved in the management of planning and preparation on a daily and hourly basis since well before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Manitoba's response has been swift, decisive, caring and professional.

In this case, personal travel was arranged and undertaken before travel advisories were in place and prior to Manitoba's first confirmed COVID-19 case. This was also before a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. Leadership from health-care systems across the Province, as well as many other industries, government, and other sectors were still undertaking both personal and work-related travel at that time.

Immediately upon the recommendation that Canadians return home, plans for return travel were confirmed.  At no point were regional preparations to support Manitoba's coordinated provincial response to COVID-19 affected.