August 21, 2020
COVID-19 Bulletin #163
Public health officials advise that the current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 2 per cent. Thirty-four new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 830.
The data shows there were:
• five new cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 19 new cases in Southern Health-Sante Sud;
• nine new cases in the Winnipeg health region; and
• one new case in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the majority of the new cases in Southern Health-Santé Sud are linked to a known cluster. Case investigations are ongoing and when they are completed, additional information will be provided as needed to inform of any public health risks.
The data also shows:
• five current hospitalizations, with one individual in intensive care;
• 265 active cases and 553 individuals have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is twelve.
Prairie Mountain Health region remains elevated to the restricted level according to the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. As of Monday, Aug. 24, masks will be mandatory in all public indoor places and at all indoor and outdoor public gatherings in the region. Public gatherings will also be restricted to 10 people, both indoors and outdoors.
Testing numbers show an additional 2,331 laboratory tests were completed on Thursday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 122,291.
Manitobans are strongly encouraged to return to the fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This means not going out while you feel ill, practicing proper hand hygiene, covering your cough and physical distancing when you are with people outside your household. If you can’t physical distance, wear a mask.
Public health officials are advising two potential exposures to COVID-19 may have occurred. The first exposure was Aug. 18, at the Canadian Tire store in Portage la Prairie, approximately from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. while the second exposure was Aug. 19 at the Olive Garden restaurant at 51 Reenders Drive in Winnipeg from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. Additional details will be updated here https://manitoba.ca/covid19/updates/flights.html
While the risk of transmission is considered low, information is being provided to help people assess their risk and seek testing if symptoms appear.
A new community COVID-19 testing site will open at 2735 Pembina Hwy. in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The site will be open to the public on a walk-in basis, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days per week. As a result, Access Fort Garry (135 Plaza Dr.) will no longer be offering COVID-19 testing once the new site opens. Their last day of public testing will be Monday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A minor change was made this week to better link health regions investigating specific COVID-19 cases with regional case counts. This has caused a small reallocation of case counts among the province’s five health regions.
Unless recommended by public health, only individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should go for testing. Individuals with symptoms are asked to seek testing as soon as possible once symptoms are present.
Employers are asked to only send employees for testing if they have symptoms or if testing has been recommended by public health. The online assessment tool can be found at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/ and COVID-19 symptoms can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/about.html#collapse4.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.
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Background information attached.
Backgrounder
Background information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2020/08/BKG-COVID_163-HLS.pdf