News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

August 31, 2020

COVID-19 Bulletin #173



Public health officials advise the current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 2.1 per cent and 28 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today. This brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 1,214.
 
The data shows:
two new cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region; 
13 new cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
six new cases in Southern Health–Santé Sud; and
seven cases in the Winnipeg health region.
 
The data also shows:
469 active cases and 731 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, 
there are 11 people in hospital and one person in intensive care, and
the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 14.
 
Preliminary investigations show that 14 of the cases announced today are close contacts of previously announced cases and one was related to travel. Additional case investigations are continuing.
 
In the last seven days, public health officials have been unable to determine the source of infection for 32 cases – 16 in Prairie Mountain Health, two in Southern Health–Santé Sud and 14 in Winnipeg. Case investigations continue and are updated as more information is available. 
 
Confirmed laboratory testing numbers show an additional 1,714 tests were completed on Friday, 1,992 tests were completed on Saturday and 1,708 tests were completed on Sunday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 137,499.
 
Public health officials are advising of a possible exposure at the Frederickson Performance Centre, Unit F-1212 18th St. in Brandon on Aug. 17 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and Aug. 23 from 9 to 10:30 a.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. 
 
Case investigations indicate that of the three cases identified at the Assiniboine Centre at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, two of the individuals were health-care workers and one is a patient. At this time, it appears the patient contracted the virus at the facility. 
 
In addition, case investigations indicate a case previously identified in the Prairie Mountain Health region is a health-care worker who works at Fairview Personal Care Home in Brandon. The health-care worker is a close contact of a previously identified case. This information has been shared with families and staff. Close contacts are being identified and the case investigations are continuing. 
 
While the current risks are assessed to be low, the site has initiated outbreak protocols at the facility in an abundance of caution as per provincial protocols. This means the site is putting additional measures in place at the facility to reduce further the risk to residents and staff, and is restricting visitation. The Fairview Personal Care Home is moving to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.
 
With the increased number of cases in southern Manitoba, public health will be re-implementing travel restrictions to northern Manitoba and remote communities, effective Thursday, Sept. 3. In addition to these restrictions, all Manitobans are asked to respect any restrictions that First Nation communities have in place.
 
In addition, a requirement for all visitors arriving at health-care facilities to wear a non-medical mask to be permitted into the site takes effect Sept. 1. It also extends to outpatients attending appointments at clinics within hospitals and health centres throughout the province. 
 
While primary care clinics and other locations providing health services are not currently included in the mask requirement, all Manitobans are strongly encouraged to wear a non-medical mask when seeking care.
 
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, practising proper hand hygiene, covering your cough and physical distancing when you are with people outside your household. If you cannot physical distance, wear a mask.
 
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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