Health officials say 2,306 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. There are 2,334 active cases in Manitoba.
Public health officials advise three additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported, a male in his 80s from Winnipeg linked to the Victoria Hospital outbreak, a female in her 80s from the Interlake–Eastern health region linked to the Misericordia Place outbreak and a male in his 40s also from the Interlake–Eastern health region.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 7.3 per cent and 170 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. However, one case was removed due to a data error. This means the net new number of cases is 169, which brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 4,701.
Dr. Brent Roussin says Winnipeg's test positivity rate is 8.3 per cent.
Today’s data shows:
• 26 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• six cases in the Northern health region;
• three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 18 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 117 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
"We are seeing a lot of cases linked to gatherings," Roussin says.
Roussin says one Thanksgiving dinner resulted in seven cases of COVID-19.
Vape pens are a common item being seen shared and spreading the virus.
The doctor says the uptick in cases is concerning.
"We need people to continue to do their part," he says. "We know it is hard to stay focused."
He says by not being on guard at all times, people are spreading the virus.
"It is very very clear we are not moving in the right direction."
He says everyone can stop the spread. He says socialization with people outside of households needs to stop.
The data also shows:
• 2,334 active cases and 2,306 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
• there are 89 people in hospital and 19 people in intensive care; and
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 61.
Laboratory testing numbers show 3,437 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 248,077. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
Lanette Siragusa, provincial lead, health system integration, quality and chief nursing officer, Shared Health says the staff capacity is being stretched and the ICU capacity is at 92 per cent. In Winnipeg, there are 71 critical care beds, excluding some units such as pediatric units. There are 35 ventilated patients in the city, but not all are COVID-19 cases. Siragusa says there are six empty beds.
She expects critical care to be stretched in the future. Siragusa says patients may be moved across the province in response to this in the future.
Siragusa says 43 surgeries are being cancelled due to isolating staff and changes made due to staff using PPE. She says most of these calculations are at St. Boniface Hospital.
"They are dealing with an incredible amount of stress and pressure," she says.
She says staff are worried about bringing the virus home to their families.
Siragusa says there have been a total of 218 positive cases in health staff. She says 37 cases are currently active, with 32 in Winnipeg, three in Prairie Mountain, one in Southern Health, and one in the Interlake region.
More are in isolation due to being close contacts of COVID-19 cases.
The province is piloting a rapid testing approach for health care workers.
She says they have filled 115 more nursing positions since 2019. The chief nursing officer says 350 staff resources have been deployed to deal with COVID-19 since the pandemic. They hope to continue to hire more staff.
"We need your help."
She says most of the people who have applied to work during the pandemic are interested in working in contact tracing.
We are here for you and we will remain here for you," Siragusa says. "We need you to buckle down and protect our healthcare resources."
She says Manitobans have a very important role to play in this and is asking people to stay home when sick, get their flu shot, and reduce their contacts.
Public health officials advise the outbreak at St. Norbert personal care home has been declared over.
All other 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.
In partnership with the chief and council from Cross Lake First Nation, provincial public health officials are advising that multiple individuals in the community have tested positive for COVID-19. These cases are related to previously announced public exposures and have led to a high number of close contacts.
Provincial public health officials are working with the community and other partners to address the situation. The community has been moved to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. The chief and council have directed that public gatherings are not permitted and community residents are required to stay at home. People should only leave their residence to seek testing or medical care, or to send one person from a household for essential supplies. People who work in essential services are able to leave their residence for work. Non-medical masks must be worn outside the home.
The chief provincial public health officer urges Manitobans to not socialize with people from outside their household, to cut down 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.
• 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.
Roussin says that restrictions, partially with businesses, have huge implications on health, not only the economy, which is why he is hesitant to upgrade the level anywhere else.
Public health guidance for Halloween trick or treating has been developed. If people do choose to participate in trick or treating this year, information is available on how to do it safely at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/halloween.html.
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.
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.
Tue, Apr 23, 1:20 PM
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