August 24, 2020
COVID-19 Bulletin #166
Watch news conference
Public health officials advise that the current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 2.9 per cent. Forty-nine new cases of the virus have been identified, with 25 cases announced today as of 9:30 a.m. and 24 cases connected to Sunday, Aug. 23. This brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 993.
Of the 49 cases, there were:
• 35 in the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region;
• two in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority;
• four in Southern Health-Santé Sud; and
• eight in the Winnipeg health region.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the majority of today’s PMH region cases are linked to intentional testing related to known clusters in communal living communities. 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:
• six current hospitalizations, with one individual in intensive care;
• 395 active cases and 586 individuals have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is twelve.
Testing numbers show an additional 1,544 laboratory tests were completed on Sunday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 127,149.
Prairie Mountain Health region has been elevated to the restricted level (orange) according to the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. Starting today, 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.
People who do not have to wear masks include:
• a child who is under five years of age;
• a person with a medical condition that is unrelated to COVID-19, including breathing or cognitive difficulties or a disability, which prevents them from safely wearing a mask; and
• a person who is unable to put on or remove a mask without the assistance of another person.
Public gathering sizes, both indoors and outdoors, are limited to 10 people. This includes weddings, funerals, banquets, receptions and professional sporting activities. More than ten members of the public may attend a business or facility that is allowed to open under these orders, if public distancing measures are in place to allow people to maintain a distance of at least two metres.
A person who enters or remains in an indoor public place, including a business, retail or restaurant establishment, must wear a mask in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin without gapping. For a list of indoor public spaces and additional details, including the exemptions related to the public health orders, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/protection/soe.html#current
Public health officials continue to monitor all regions with increased cases closely to determine if additional restrictions are necessary.
Public health officials are advising a potential exposure to COVID-19 may have occurred at the Safeway Corral Centre (921 18th St. North) in Brandon on Aug. 15 (2:00 to 6:00 p.m.), Aug. 18 (11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Aug. 19 (2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.). 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. 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, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Portage la Prairie Drive-Thru Community Testing Site (245 Royal Rd) is moving to a new location. The site will be closed on Aug. 26 and will re-open at Portage Ave. and 5th St. SE on Aug. 27. Hours of operation will be Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only. To book, call 204-428-3471.
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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