After finding more COVID-19 variants of concern, health officials are cautioning Manitobans about the increased risk of COVID-19 spread.

Dr. Jazz Atwal says they have found 46 new instances of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant, with 44 of those in Winnipeg. The other two were found in the Southern Health region.

"Every interaction does cause a little bit of a risk," Atawel says. "Think about all those interactions you've had on a daily basis for the previous two weeks."

He says while things may be open, it does not mean the risk of spreading COVID-19 has gone.

"It is up to Manitobans. Manitobans still need to adhere to handwashing, staying at home when you are sick, adhering to the orders, coughing in your sleeve. It is going to be up to all of us."

Today the province announced three additional COVID-19 deaths:

  • a male in his 70s from the Interlake-Eastern health region;
  • a male in his 60s from the Northern health region; and
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region.

In total 932 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported.

Friday's 116 new cases are from:

  • two cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region; 
  • 55 cases in the Northern health region;  
  • three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;  
  • five cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and  
  • 51 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

 Actionmarguerite St. Joseph personal care home's outbreak is over.

In hospital, there are 58 people with active COVID-19 including 12 of those in IU, and 84 recovered people including 31 who require ICU care.

Winnipeg's five-day test positivity rate is 3.6 per cent. Provincially the rate is 4.4 per cent.