News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

October 19, 2020

COVID-19 Bulletin #225



Public health officials advise the 41st and 42nd deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported, a female in her 80s and a male in his 70s, both from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the Heritage Lodge outbreak. These cases were previously announced.
 
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.2 per cent and 80 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m., bringing the total number of cases in Manitoba to 3,382.
 
Today’s data shows:
four cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
five cases in the Northern health region;
six case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
14 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
51 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
 
The data also shows:
1,743 active cases and 1,597 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
there are 28 people in hospital and six people in intensive care; and
the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 42.
 
Laboratory testing numbers show 1,677 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 226,594. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
 
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.
 
With the growing number of cases in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, the province is introducing targeted measures under the Restricted (orange) level of the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System to reduce community spread of the virus by reducing close, prolonged contact  between people. These measures will come into effect today and will be in place for a minimum of two weeks. For more information, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/winnipeg/index.html
 
The chief provincial public health officer strongly encourages Manitobans to reduce the number of close contacts outside their household and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces. In addition, they should focus on these fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19:
Stay home if you are sick.
Wash/sanitize your hands and cover your cough.
Physically distance when you are with people outside your household.
If you cannot physically distance, wear a mask to help reduce the risk to others or as required by public health orders.
 
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
 
For up-to-date information on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit:
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html.
 

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