Manitobans are being urged to not call the phone number meant only for front-line health providers to book their COVID-19 vaccine appointments. 

Public health officials advise nine additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including:
• a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region; 
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Park Manor Personal Care Home;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg;
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Fred Douglas Lodge;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg;
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg; and
• a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud region, linked to the outbreak at the Rest Haven Nursing Home.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.6 per cent provincially and 13 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 241 new cases of the virus have been identified, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 21,264.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 10 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• 23 cases in the Northern health region;
• 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 38 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 158 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
• 5,791 active cases and 14,974 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
• there are 303 people in hospital with 39 people in intensive care due to COVID-19; and
• the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 499.

Data on hospitalizations in the Prairie Mountain health region and ICU admissions at the Brandon Regional Health Centre were not available this morning due to technical issues. This information will be updated tomorrow.

Laboratory testing numbers show 2,133 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 390,503. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

A new walk-in testing centre located at the Garrick Centre at 330 Garry St. in Winnipeg, opened today and will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

At this time, there is a very limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine. Only eligible front-line health providers will be immunized with the first 900 doses, which are expected this week. Members of the public have been calling for appointments, which means eligible health-care providers cannot get through. If you are not an eligible front-line health provider, do not call for an appointment. More information will be shared with the public about immunization clinics as the supply of vaccine increases.