The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 1.8 per cent and 22 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the number of cases in Manitoba to 1,608. 

 

Public health officials are also reporting two deaths today, a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region and a female in her 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region.  This brings the total number of deaths to 18.

 

The data shows:

• one case in the Interlake–Eastern health region;

• two cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;

• three cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud; and

• 16 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

 

The data also shows:

• 363 active cases and 1,227 individuals have recovered from COVID-19; 

• there are 8 people in hospital and two people in intensive care; and

• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 18. 

 

Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified. Confirmed laboratory testing numbers show 1,626 tests were completed on Friday, 1,425 tests were completed on Saturday and 1,116 tests were completed on Sunday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 166,998. 

 

Public health officials have sent a letter to parents about a possible exposure to COVID-19 at Collège Garden City Collegiate on Monday, Sept. 14, Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Wednesday, Sept. 16. The school is working closely with public health officials and following their recommendations. Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low risk. At this time, no close contacts in the classrooms have been identified at Garden City Collegiate. No one is required to self-isolate from this exposure. The school will remain open to students and staff, who can continue to attend school in person. The site is not being elevated on the Pandemic Response System, given the low risk and lack of close contacts.

 

Public health officials have sent a letter to parents about a possible exposure to COVID-19 in the school portable at Meadows School in Brandon on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Wednesday, Sept. 16. The school is working closely with public health officials and following their recommendations. This case was not acquired at school. Public health has recommended that all students and staff in the same room as the case be identified as close contacts and advised to self-isolate. This class has been transitioned to remote learning as of today. The school will remain open to all other students and staff, who can continue to attend school in person.

 

Public health is also advising of possible exposures to COVID-19 at the following sites on the dates and times: 

• Planet Fitness at 783 Leila Ave. in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 3 to 4 p.m.;

• 7 Arabian Dreams at 775 Corydon Ave. in Winnipeg on Friday, Sept. 18 from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20 from 12:45 to 1 a.m.; and

• Winnipeg Transit, route #14 on Sept. 15 from Ellice Avenue and Spence Street at 11:10 a.m. to St. Mary Avenue at 11:30 a.m.

 

There has been a concerning increase in the number of cases in Winnipeg, with many cases having large numbers of close contacts. Recent success in the Prairie Mountain Health region shows that focusing on the fundamentals can reduce the transmission of COVID-19. The chief provincial public health officer strongly encourages residents of and visitors to Winnipeg to focus on these fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

 

People must stay home if sick. Wash/sanitize your hands, cover your cough and physically distance when you are with people outside your household. If you cannot physically distance, you should wear a mask to help reduce your risk. Reduce the number of close contacts outside your household, and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces. 

 

Unless recommended by public health officials, 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 officials. 

 

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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