Public health officials advise a ninth death related to COVID-19 has been reported, a male in his 80s from the City of Portage la Prairie health district in the Southern Health-Santé Sud region. This is a previously-reported case connected to a known cluster and the individual was in the intensive care unit.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 1.49 per cent. Twenty new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today. This brings the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 663.
The data shows there were:
• three new cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• six new cases in Southern Health-Santé Sud; and
• 11 new cases in the Winnipeg region.
Preliminary investigations indicate that several of today’s Winnipeg regional cases are linked to travel or a close contact of a known case. 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:
• nine current hospitalizations, with three individuals in intensive care;
• 211 active cases and 443 individuals have recovered from COVID-19; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is nine.
Testing numbers show an additional 1,791 laboratory tests were completed on Friday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 112,283.
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 here https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/ and COVID-19 symptoms can be found here https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/about.html#collapse4.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba visit Manitoba.ca/COVID19.