Today is when new hours are being implemented for Manitoba Public Insurance locations.

"All Manitoba Public Insurance service centres including Portage will be open Monday to Friday from 9:00 until 4:30 p.m," says spokesman Brian Smiley. "This obviously excludes the three service centres that have already been closed and converted into COVID-19 drive-thru testing centres."

He notes the MPI contact centre is also adjusting its hours from 8:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. for Saturday. These changes are also effective Monday, April 6.

"We are asking our customers that if they do not have to visit, our service centre or a broker, they can do their business online," adds Smiley. "They can make payments online. They can make transactions by the phone. Having said that, those customers who do plan to visit the service centre, if they are symptom-free, we certainly welcome them. If they haven't traveled recently, obviously they can come in. We are only allowing ten customers into the waiting area per visit."