Public health is reporting that no new confirmed cases of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant have been detected in Manitoba. The total number of omicron cases in Manitoba is five.
The new variants spread the same way as the original COVID-19 virus. Manitobans should continue following public health orders, limit contact with others and focus on the fundamentals to limit the spread of COVID-19 (including variants) and protect yourself and those around you. Be sure to:
get vaccinated;
check yourself for symptoms every day;
stay home when you are sick, even if symptoms are only mild;
get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19;
maintain social (physical) distancing;
wear a mask when required and when social (physical) distancing is not possible;
wash your hands frequently; and
follow all public health advice and direction if you have returned from travel or have been identified as close contact to a case with a variant of concern.
Federal travel restrictions and measures can be found here https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid.
Public health officials advise four new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:
a female in her 50 from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
a male in his 60s from Southern Health-Sante Sud (reported Thursday);
a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday); and
a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Friday).
Today's five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 5.7 per cent provincially and 3.7 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 401 new cases of the virus have been identified since Wednesday: 203 cases on Thursday, Dec. 9; and 198 cases today. This includes:
Interlake Eastern health region - 39
Northern health region - 43
Prairie Mountain health region - 76
Southern Health-Sante Sud health region - 128
Winnipeg health region - 115
Ten cases have been removed due to data correction. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 69,507.
There were 198 new cases identified in Manitoba today. Of these, 116 are in individuals who were not fully vaccinated. This includes:
Interlake Eastern health region - 26 cases, 16 not fully vaccinated
Northern health region - 15 cases, 9 not fully vaccinated
Prairie Mountain health region - 23 cases, 18 not fully vaccinated
Southern Health-Sante Sud health region - 64 cases, 47 not fully vaccinated
Winnipeg health region - 70 cases, 26 not fully vaccinated
Today’s data also shows:
1,691 active cases and 66,471 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
142 Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 including 87 people with active COVID-19 as well as 55 people who are no longer infectious;
a total of 35 Manitoba patients receiving intensive care for COVID-19 including 27 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as eight people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care;
3,390 laboratory tests were completed yesterday bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 1,203,473; and
the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 1,345.
Outbreaks have been declared at:
Misericordia Health Centre, Transitional Care Unit (TCU) Cornish 6, in Winnipeg
The facility has been moved to Critical (Red) level on the Pandemic Response System.
Outbreaks have been declared over at:
Russell personal care home
Vaccine
Manitobans are strongly urged to receive their third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine before attending gatherings and holiday celebrations. To ensure the strongest immune response possible, the timeline between second and third dose is being shortened for some individuals. Anyone aged 60 or older or those aged 18 or older who live in a First Nations community who received their second dose on or before July 10 are now strongly encouraged to receive their third dose. A six month timeframe between second and third doses continues to be recommended for most other eligible Manitobans.
More information is available at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html#third.
Eligibility for first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine continues to include anyone aged five or older. Second dose appointments can be made for children ages five to 11. The interval between first and second doses must be a minimum of eight weeks or a minimum of 21 days for children living in First Nations communities.
A total of 2,345,821 doses of vaccine have been administered in Manitoba, including 37,546 first doses given to children aged five to 11. This represents 30 per cent of children in that age group. As of today, 83 per cent of all eligible Manitobans aged five and up have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 77.9 per cent have received two doses. Manitoba’s online vaccine dashboard will be updated in the coming days to include updated statistics about third doses.
Many Manitoba vaccine sites are offering walk-in and appointment-based vaccination for COVID and seasonal flu. Eligible individuals can book their appointments online, or by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC).
For hours and days of operation, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/finder/html.
More resources about:
Vaccine campaign in Manitoba: www.manitoba.ca/vaccine and https://protectmb.ca.
Possible exposure locations by region: www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/flights.html#event
Data related to COVID-19, variants of concern, outbreaks and some downloadable and historic data: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/.
Up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba: www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.