News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

August 22, 2020

COVID-19 Bulletin #164



Public health officials advise that the current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 1.8 per cent.  Forty-two 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 872.
 
The data shows there were:
•    24 new cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
•    16 new cases in Southern Health-Santé Sud; and
•    two new cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
•    six current hospitalizations, with one individual in intensive care;
•    290 active cases and 570 individuals have recovered from COVID-19; and
•    the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is twelve.

Manitobans are reminded Prairie Mountain Health region has been elevated to the restricted level (orange) 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. Manitobans within this region are encouraged to take these extra precautions immediately to help slow the spread of this virus.

Testing numbers show an additional 1,849 laboratory tests were completed on Friday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 124,140.

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.

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 amongst 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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