News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

November 9, 2020

COVID-19 Bulletin #248



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Public health officials advise three additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including: 
a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
a male in his 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Victoria General Hospital.
 
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 9.5 per cent provincially and 9.3 per cent in Winnipeg, and 365 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m., which brings the total lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 8,495. 
 
Today’s data shows:
16 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
16 cases in the Northern health region;
nine cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
91 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
233 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
 
The data also shows:
5,152 active cases and 3,234 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; 
there are 192 people in hospital with 28 people in intensive care; and
the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 109.
 
Laboratory testing numbers show 3,143 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 288,568. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
 
Public health officials advise that in order to maintain the capacity for testing symptomatic people, testing appointments for people who are asymptomatic will not be booked unless directed by public health. At this time, individuals who are not experiencing symptoms may be turned away from testing sites. Employers are asked to only send employees for testing if they have symptoms or if testing has been recommended by public health officials.
 
Public health officials have advised that outbreaks have been declared at Bethania Mennonite personal care home in Winnipeg, Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, St. Amant Health and Transition Services in Winnipeg and Extendicare Tuxedo Villa personal care home in Winnipeg. The sites have been moved to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.
 
Officials advise the COIVD-19 outbreak on the B5 unit at St. Boniface Hospital has been declared over. The unit will return to regular operations. 
 
Other 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 chief provincial public health officer urges Manitobans to not socialize with people from outside their household, to significantly reduce the number of close contacts 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, or when any member of your family is sick.
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.
 
Public health officials are also advising the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and Southern Health–Santé Sud region that anyone who is symptomatic, or has a household member who is symptomatic, the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. 
 
The symptomatic individual needs to stay in their own room and, if possible, use their own bathroom and not use common areas. Exemptions are in place for asymptomatic household members if they are an essential worker required to wear PPE while at work such as health-care workers or first responders. For information on self-isolation, visit:
www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/resources.html#collapse2.
 
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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