Officials are reporting 40 new cases of COVID-19, tying the province's highest daily count from April 2.

Manitoba's total is now 643. In Southern Health, there are currently 47 active cases, while 64 people have recovered and there have been two deaths recorded.

In total, 25 new cases were identified in the Prairie Mountail Health region Friday, five in the Southern Health region, 10 in the Winnipeg health region.

Officials say a majority of the new cases are linked to previously announced cases in Brandon, providing early indications of community transmission.

Currently in the province there are nine people in hospital, three in intensive care, 246 active cases and 389 individuals who have recovered. The number of deaths remains at eight.

Testing numbers show an additional 2,288 laboratory tests were completed on Thursday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 110,492.

Unless recommended by public health, only individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should go for testing, officials say. Individuals with symptoms are asked to seek testing as soon as possible once symptoms are present.

Public health officials are advising of two potential exposure to COVID-19 may have occurred. The first potential exposure was on Aug. 7 at the Sobey’s at 1570 18th St. in Brandon and Aug. 10 at the Minnedosa Hospital at 334 First St.

The second exposure is on Aug. 9 at the Cartwright Town and Country Golf Club, along PTH 3, just west of Cartwright.

While the risk of transmission is considered low, information is being provided to help people assess their risk and seek testing if symptoms appear.

Cases identified today include:

-a male between the ages of 10 and 19 from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male between the ages of 10 and 19 from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female between the ages of 10 and 19 from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 20s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 20s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 20s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 30s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 40s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 40s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 40s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a female in her 40s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 40s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 40s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 50s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 50s from Prairie Mountain Health;
-a male in his 50s from Prairie Mountain Health;
- a male in his 60s from Prairie Mountain Health;

-a female in her 30s from Southern Health–Santé Sud;
-a male in his 30s from Southern Health–Santé Sud;
-a female in her 50s from Southern Health–Santé Sud;
-a female in her 50s from Southern Health–Santé Sud;
-a male in his 80s from Southern Health–Santé Sud;

-a female between the ages of zero and nine from the Winnipeg health region;
-a female between the ages of 10 to 19 from the Winnipeg health region;
-a male between the ages of 10 to 19 from the Winnipeg health region;
-a female in her 20s from the Winnipeg health region;
-a male in his 20s from the Winnipeg health region;
-a male in his 20s from the Winnipeg health region;
-a male in his 20s from the Winnipeg health region;
-a female in her 40s from the Winnipeg health region;
-a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region; and
-a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region.