Manitoba continues to report on the recorded number of COVID-19 cases. However, it is important to note this data is limited and should be used with caution. It includes cases confirmed by a PCR test as well as rapid tests given by health care professionals. Positive test results from rapid antigen tests, which people generally do at home, are not collected or reported. As a result, these numbers are an under-reporting of COVID-19 in the community.
Public health officials advise 11 new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:
A female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Thursday);
A female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Health Sciences Centre unit GA4, (reported Thursday);
A male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Friday);
A female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Friday); and
A male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Friday).
In total, the province is reporting 623 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing Manitoba's total active case count to 17,423. There are 707 total COVID-19 hospitalizations in Manitoba, 517 of which are active cases. As well, there are 52 COVID-related ICU patients in the province - 39 of which are active cases. The provincial test positivity rate is 26.8%
Information about COVID-19 in Manitoba is updated weekdays at 12:30 p.m. on these DataMB dashboards:
Case data: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/apps/manitoba-covid-19/
COVID-19 vaccination coverage: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/apps/manitoba-covid-19-vaccinations-dashboard-1/
Only symptomatic individuals or those advised by public health should visit a COVID-19 provincial testing site. Rapid antigen tests will continue to be used for the majority of people visiting a provincial testing site. Those who are at higher risk of severe illness as well as some groups who have tested positive on a rapid antigen test will still be eligible for PCR testing. Detailed information on updated COVID-19 testing eligibility can be found at:
https://gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/index.html.
Outbreaks
Outbreaks have been declared at:
St. Boniface Hospital, unit E4GM, Winnipeg;
Souris Health Centre, Souris;
Outbreaks declared over at:
St. Boniface Hospital, unit B5, Winnipeg;
River Park Gardens, Winnipeg;
Vista Park Lodge; Winnipeg;
Health Sciences Centre, PX3, Winnipeg;
Misericordia Health Centre, unit C5, Winnipeg;
Deer Lodge Centre, Lodge 6 East, Winnipeg;
Brandon Regional Health Centre, unit A3, Brandon;
Sandy Lake personal care home, Sandy Lake;
Rideau Park personal care home, Brandon.
Vaccine
The RBC provincial vaccine clinic is open for walk-in appointments.
Manitobans who are eligible for a third dose, or booster, are urged to get one. The booster dose is readily available to everyone over age 18 in Manitoba. It is most important that those who are 50 and over get immunized with a third dose right away, because this age group is experiencing - and will continue to experience - more severe outcomes, including hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths.
Manitobans who live in First Nations communities, have diabetes, or are immunocompromised are urged to get a third dose. A complete listing of the medical conditions that would classify a person as immunocompromised can be found at https://protectmb.ca.
Delivering the second round of vaccines to children ages 5 to 11 is continuing in many locations, including schools. It is recommended by Health Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and public health that the second dose be administered eight weeks following the first dose.
As of today, a total of 71,263 first doses have been given to children ages five to 11, or 57 per cent of that age group.
Manitobans are encouraged to get their second and third doses as quickly as possible. While COVID-19 vaccine appointments continue to be available at regional or provincial vaccine clinics, for many people the fastest way to be immunized is at a nearby medical clinic, pharmacy or urban Indigenous clinic. Check the online vaccine finder or a medical clinic or pharmacy near you that provides the COVID-19 vaccine to find the next available opportunity to be immunized. The timeline between second and third doses and eligibility criteria information can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html.
Eligible individuals can book their appointments online, by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) or by contacting their local pharmacy or medical clinic directly. Visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/finder.html for some of the available options.