Public health officials advise one additional death in a person with COVID-19 has been reported today: 

• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.8 per cent provincially and 2.7 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 66 new cases of the virus have been identified. However, four cases have been removed due to data correction. This brings the net-new number of cases today to 62 and the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 32,350.

 

Public health officials are announcing that five additional confirmed cases because of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant of concern first identified in the United Kingdom and eight confirmed cases because of the B.1.351 COVID-19 variant of concern first identified in South Africa have been detected. The cases identified today are all from the Winnipeg health region, with the majority being either travel or close contact related.

Officials note most of the B.1.351 variant cases announced today were found through the retroactive screening of samples from February. At this time, there is no evidence of widespread community transmission of either variant of concern. Case investigations continue and the public will be informed should the risk profile change.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• four cases in Interlake–Eastern health region; 
• 36 cases in the Northern health region;  
• zero cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;  
• seven cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and  
• 19 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
• 1,153 active cases and 30,290 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; 
• 55 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 108 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 163 hospitalizations; 
• 10 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 12 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 22 ICU patients; 
• the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 907. Due to a data correction, one death that had been reported earlier has been removed; and 
• the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 11 and B.1.351 is 11, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 22.

Laboratory testing numbers show 1,235 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 539,998. 
 
Additional data related to COVID-19, including data on outbreaks as well as some downloadable and historic data, can be found at https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/.

Possible exposure locations are listed online by region at the province’s #RestartMB Pandemic Response System webpage. For up-to-date information on possible public exposures to COVID-19 in regions, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/flights.html#event and click on your region. 
 
The outbreak has been declared over at Riverview Health Centre.

The chief provincial public health officer reminds Manitobans to self-isolate immediately at the onset of possible COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild. This means staying home from work, school or other daily activities, and not visiting with others. Testing should be done as soon as possible once symptoms appear. For information on COVID-19 symptoms and guidance on when you should be tested, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/fundamentals/symptoms.html. 
 
Manitobans are encouraged to travel only if essential and be sure to physically distance, wear a mask in indoor public places and avoid crowded spaces. Do not leave the home if you are sick, or when any member of your family is sick. Further, only socialize with your two designated people as per the current public health orders. 
 
Public health officials are also advising that if anyone is symptomatic, or has a household member who is symptomatic, the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. For health-care workers, exceptions may apply and staff may be able/required to report to work after contacting their workplace occupational health services or designate. For information on self-isolation, including exceptions, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/fundamentals/self-isolation.html. 
 
The online COVID-19 self-assessment tool can be found at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/ and COVID-19 symptoms can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/fundamentals/symptoms.html.
 
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19. 
 
For up-to-date information on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit:
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html.