COVID-19

Manitoba's deputy chief public health officer says the detection of the province's first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant was not unexpected, and notes Public Health is prepared to address it.

Dr. Jazz Atwal said today, it was a matter of time before the variant made it to Manitoba, and now that it's here, he says Public Health is doing all it can to reduce the spread.

The Manitoba government has unveiled a task force which will address the diagnostic and surgical backlogs as its top priority.

"Adding more diagnostic and surgical procedures throughout the health-care system is a priority that requires us to take steps today, while developing plans to improve the system for Manitoba patients," says Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon. "The strain put on Manitoba's health-care system by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urgency of this work, but also highlights the need to find solutions over the short, medium and long term."

Public health is reporting that four new confirmed cases of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant have been detected in Manitoba. One individual recently travelled from one of the 10 federally advised countries. The other cases are close contacts and are currently asymptomatic. Public health is conducting aggressive case and contact management. If additional public health risks are assessed and it is deemed necessary to protect the health of others, more information will be released. The total number of omicron cases in Manitoba is five.

The province of Manitoba says there is now a total of five B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant cases.

One person travelling from one of the 10 federally advised countries has contracted the new variant and infected three close contacts. All are asymptomatic.

"The new variant spreads the same way as the original COVID-19 virus," Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal says in a Wednesday press conference.  

Dr. Joss Reimer says it is looking "very optimistic" that people who have booster shots will be protected against the virus.

Staff with the Northwestern Health Unit are reporting four new cases of COVID-19 today.

They include 1 case in the Dryden / Red Lake region, and 3 new cases in the Sioux Lookout region. Follow up with those involved and their contacts have started according to protocols, and anyone who is identified as a contact for the case will be reached directly.

COVID-19 intensive care patients continue to put an intense strain on Manitoba's healthcare system, causing the pause on procedures and tests for tens of thousands of Manitobans.

Shared Health Provincial COVID-19 Operations Chief and Health Services' Acute Inpatient Services Executive Director Monika Warren says in a Wednesday press conference that 46 nurses have left their intensive care post recently. While some of those people have retired, others did not. She is disappointed to see the highly-trained specialists go.

The province has provided the latest COVID-19 update. 

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, gave a briefing on the COVID-19 situation and the new Omicron variant in the province on Tuesday.

According to Dr. Hinshaw, no new cases of the Omicron variant were identified in Alberta on Tuesday, although more are expected.  

The province has provided the latest COVID-19 update. 

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, provided an update on the COVID-19 situation and the new Omicron variant in the province on Tuesday (Dec. 7). 

According to Hinshaw, no new cases of the Omicron variant were identified in Alberta on Tuesday, although more are expected.  

A previously-announced delegation will not be meeting with the Pope this December due to concerns about the omicron variant.

A joint statement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is announcing Tuesday that a previously-planned delegation with Pope Francis is on pause.

Diagnosis for sleep disorders, osteoporosis, and many other conditions are on the back burner, firing up tipping point concerns for Manitoban doctors.

The president of Doctors Manitoba says in November, case backlogs and tests grew by more than 100 cases every day. Now, he says 152,116 diagnostic tests and surgeries are postponed.

"Our health system is again at a tipping point."

Kristjan Thompson says more than 42,000 diagnostic imaging procedures and more than 56,000 surgeries make up roughly two-thirds of the backlog.