A record-breaking 15 COVID-19 related deaths are being announced in Manitoba on Saturday. Most of the deaths stem from the previously announced outbreak at the Maples Long Term Care Home in Winnipeg.

Public health officials say the additional deaths being reported on Saturday occurred between November 2nd and 13th. They include:

  • A male in his 70’s from Southern Health.
  • A male in his 70’s from Southern Health.
  • A male in his 80’s from Southern Health.
  • A female in her 60s, a female in her 70’s, two females in their 80s, three males in their 80s, three females in their 90s, a male in his 90s all from the Winnipeg region and linked to the outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home.
  • A male in his 80’s from the Winnipeg region and linked to the outbreak at St. Boniface hospital.

Public health officials also advise outbreaks have been declared at Menno Home in Grunthal, and Vita and District Personal Care Home in Vita.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12.4% provincially and 239 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. Saturday. However, two cases were removed due to being out of province and a data correction. This brings the net new cases to 237 and the total lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 10,453.

Of the 239 new cases announced, 10 are in Steinbach, eight in Hanover, 5 in the Ste. Anne/La Broquerie District, 1 in Tache, 1 in the Niverville/Ritchot District, and 1 in the Ste. Pierre/De Salaberry District.

Today’s data shows:

  • 11 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region.
  • 16 cases in the Northern health region.
  • 9 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
  • 40 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region.
  • 163 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

There are now 6,410 active cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, 228 of those individuals are currently hospitalized with 34 people in intensive care. 3,891 individuals have recovered from the virus.

Laboratory testing numbers show 2,971 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 307,056. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

The chief provincial public health officer urges Manitobans to not socialize with people from outside their household, to significantly reduce the number of close contacts 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, or when any member of your family is sick.
  • 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.

Public health officials are also advising that anyone who is symptomatic or has a household member who is symptomatic, the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results.