Public health officials advise four new deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today:
• a female in her 60s from the Northern Health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern;
• a female in her 60s from Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern;
• a male in his 80s from Winnipeg health region; and
• a female in her 90s from Winnipeg Health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12 per cent provincially and 14.2 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 430 new cases of the virus have been identified. However, two cases have been removed due to data correction. This brings the net-new number of cases today to 428 and the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 44,617.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 23 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• 11 cases in the Northern health region;
• 30 cases in the Prairie Mountain health region;
• 27 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 339 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
The data also shows:
• 4,219 active cases and 39,392 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
• 181 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 60 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 241 hospitalizations;
• 51 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 19 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 70 ICU patients;
• 3,515 laboratory tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 718,020; and
• the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 1,006.
As a response to the rising infection rates of COVID-19, all 27 schools in the Garden Valley and Red River Valley School Districts will move to remote learning effective May 18 until May 30.
Additional data on variants of concern is updated from Tuesday to Saturday at https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/. Data related to COVID-19, outbreaks and some downloadable and historic data can also be found at this site.
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.
A new mobile testing site at 1181 Portage Ave. in Winnipeg will open Monday, May 17. The site, which will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will offer testing by appointment, which can be booked starting May 16 by calling (toll-free) 1-888-986-8152. More information on COVID-19 testing is available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/index.html.
Due to health and safety measures required to keep families, individuals and staff safe in response to COVID-19, Community Living disABILITY Services-funded day services for adults with intellectual disabilities will be suspended for two weeks in Winnipeg. The closure will take effect on Monday, May 17 and extend until May 28. Some exceptions may be made where the safety of individuals cannot be managed in residential care or at home during the day.
Manitoba Families continues to support the redeployment of day services and transportation staff to individuals’ places of residence. Individuals being supported at home will be encouraged to use virtual meetings and other technology to stay connected with friends, families and the broader community.
Public health officials are reminding Manitobans that in most cases, they should only seek testing at a provincial test site if they are symptomatic or have been advised by public health that they are a close contact. This will help ensure that those who need to be tested can continue to access testing as easily as possible. Manitobans have several options available to access testing, including drive-thru, walk-in, or by booking an appointment by calling 1-855-268-4318 or online at select sites at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/locations.html#appointment.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, including the online screening tool, testing criteria and locations, self-isolation requirements, public health fundamentals and the provincial response level on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.