The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.1 per cent and 54 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the total number of cases in Manitoba to 2,578.
Today’s data shows:
• five cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• two cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• seven cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 40 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
Detailed graphs of COVID-19 in Manitoba can be found here.
The data also shows:
• 1,063 active cases and 1,483 individuals have recovered from COVID-19;
• there are 24 people in hospital and four people in intensive care; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 32.
Laboratory testing numbers show 2,969 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 208,703. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
With Thanksgiving this weekend, public health officials are reminding Manitobans that residents of personal care homes are very vulnerable to COVID-19. Any visits over the Thanksgiving weekend should be planned with caution. Guidelines for how to enjoy fall holidays and celebrations while reducing the potential spread of COVID-19 are available at:
www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/prepareandprevent.html#holidays.
Public health officials are advised about additional possible exposures at the following schools:
• Bird’s Hill School at 3950 Raleigh St. in East St Paul on Sept. 30, and Oct. 1 and 2. Based on the public health investigation, the risk of this exposure was assessed to be low. The infection was not believed to be acquired at school. Those identified as close contacts will be contacted by public health and provided instructions for self-isolation (quarantine).
• École Heritage Immersion at 433 Rue Sabourin in St-Pierre-Jolys on Sept. 29 and 30. Based on the public health investigation, the infection is not believed to be acquired at school. Those identified as close contacts will be contacted by public health and provided instructions for self-isolation (quarantine).
• North Memorial School at 410 Sixth Avenue N.E. in Portage la Prairie on Sept. 28, 29 and 30 and Oct. 1, 2 and 5. Based on the public health investigation, the infection is not believed to be acquired at school. Those identified as close contacts will be contacted by public health and provided instructions for self-isolation (quarantine).
The public is also being advised of possible exposure at this site:
• Fit For Less (gym) at 1399 McPhillips St. in Winnipeg on Oct. 2 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. and Oct. 3 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.
Testing for COVID-19 is available on Thanksgiving Monday at community testing sites in Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk, Eriksdale, Powerview–Pine Falls, Winkler, Steinbach, and Portage la Prairie. Visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19/updates/testing.html for more information.
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.
Due to the long weekend, the regularly scheduled Monday in-person update will move to Tuesday, Oct. 13. Bulletins will continue to be posted every day.
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.
Updated enforcement statistics are posted online and updated weekly. For more information go to Cross-Departmental Reports at www.gov.mb.ca/openmb/infomb/departments.html.