Manitoba Public Insurance is closing its Main Street Service Centre in Winnipeg, effective today (March 31) to allow it to be used for a COVID-19 mobile, drive-thru testing centre.
This is the third MPI Service Centre ─ Bison Drive and Dauphin, as previously announced ─ closing in order to allow for drive-thru COVID-19 testing. An official opening date for the drive-thru will be announced by Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living.
“Everyone is doing their part to assist in our efforts to get control of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton. “Cooperation such as this will help lower the COVID-19 curve. While these are challenging times, we are all in this together and will overcome this challenge stronger than ever before.”
The Main Street drive-thru location will operate on a referral basis, with Manitobans required to contact Health Links-Info Santé for screening to determine whether they should be tested for COVID-19. Individuals being tested will be requested to remain in their vehicles in order to comply with social distancing guidelines.
“I must commend both our staff and customers for making these adjustments to their lives,” MPI’s President and CEO Ben Graham said today. “MPI will do everything possible to assist in this battle against COVID-19. We also can’t ignore our customers who are also facing tremendously challenging times.”
MPI’s Winnipeg’s Main Service Centre is located at 1284 Main Street. Affected MPI staff be relocated to other locations, or allowed to work from home where possible.