The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 2.5 per cent and 37 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the number of cases in Manitoba to 1,711.

Public health officials are also reporting one death today, a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Parkview Place personal care home. This brings the total number of deaths to 19.

 The data shows:-four cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;-30 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
-449 active cases and 1,243 individuals have recovered from COVID-19;
-there are 11 people in hospital and six people in intensive care; and
-the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 19.

Preliminary laboratory testing numbers show 1,616 tests were completed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 171,661. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

Manitoba public health officials have advised Grant Park High School in Winnipeg of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school on Sept. 15, 16 and 17. Based on the public health investigations, the exposure was assessed to be low risk. The infection was not acquired at school.

In addition, the Carberry Plains Health Centre has reopened, and has been moved to Caution (yellow) from Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.

The chief provincial public health officer strongly encourages residents of and visitors to Winnipeg to focus on these fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19:
-People must stay home if sick.
-Wash/sanitize your hands, cover your cough and physically distance when you are with people outside your household.
-If you cannot physically distance, you should wear a mask to help reduce your risk.
-Reduce the number of close contacts outside your household, and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces.

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 public health officials have recommended testing.

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.