Public health officials advise 12 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including:
• a female in her 30s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region;
• a female in her 80s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region;
• a male in his 80s from the Northern health region;
• a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region; and
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.6 per cent provincially and 10.6 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 244 new cases of the virus have been identified, which brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 23,624.
Manitoba’s COVID-19 Dashboard can be found here.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 44 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
• 41 cases in the Northern health region;
• three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 42 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud region; and
• 114 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
The data also shows:
• 4,489 active cases and 18,518 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
• there are 254 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 92 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 346 hospitalizations;
• there are 35 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as six people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 41 ICU patients; and
• the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 617.
Laboratory testing numbers show 2,163 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 411,618. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
The Winkler drive-thru testing site at 485 George Ave. will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, due to staffing and reopen Friday, Dec. 25, with regular hours of operation.
An outbreak has been declared at the E5 medicine unit at St. Boniface Hospital, Calvary Place personal care home and Deer Lodge Centre, all in Winnipeg. The sites have been moved to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.
In addition, outbreaks have been declared over at Bridgepark Manor, an assisted living facility in Steinbach, Buhler Active Living Centre in Winkler, and Grace Hospital units 2 South and 3 North in Winnipeg.
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 reminds Manitobans to immediately self-isolate at the onset of possible COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild. This means staying home from work, school or other daily activities. Testing should be done as soon as possible once symptoms appear. For information on COVID-19 symptoms and guidance on when you should get tested, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/fundamentals/symptoms.html.
Manitobans should only leave their homes for essential purposes. When leaving the house to obtain essentials, be sure to physically distance, wear a mask in indoor public places and avoid crowded spaces. Do not leave the home if you are sick, or when any member of your family is sick. Further, do not socialize with anyone from outside your household.
Additional data related to COVID-19, including data on outbreaks as well as some downloadable and historic data can be found at https://manitoba.ca/openmb/datamb/. Updated enforcement statistics are posted online weekly. For more information, go to the Cross-Departmental Reports section at https://manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/departments/index.html.
Public health officials are also advising that if anyone is symptomatic, or has a household member who is symptomatic, the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. For health-care workers, exceptions may apply and staff may be able/required to report to work after contacting their workplace occupational health services or designate. For information on self-isolation, including exceptions, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/fundamentals/self-isolation.html.
The online COVID-19 self-assessment tool can be found at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/ and COVID-19 symptoms can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/fundamentals/symptoms.html.
(Manitoba Government News Release)
