The five-day test positivity rate is 2.6 percent as the Province announced 53 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the total to 1,764.

The data shows:
-two cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
-two cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
-two cases in the Northern health region;
-four cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud; and
-44 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
-487 active cases and 1,258 individuals have recovered from COVID-19;
-there are 13 people in hospital and six people in intensive care; and
-the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 19.

 Effective September 28, the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region will be elevated to the Restricted (orange) level with new measures in place.

Starting Monday, masks will be mandatory in all indoor public places. Gatherings will also be restricted to 10 people both indoors and outdoors.

Officials say restrictions will remain in place for a minimum of four weeks, or two incubation periods of the virus, and further direction or additional restrictions may be put in place by public health at any time. All other existing orders and rules for schools, child care, retail, museums, theatres and casinos will remain the same for the time being.

In addition to these measures, government and public health officials are consulting with the restaurant industry as well as bars, beverage rooms, brew pubs, microbreweries and distilleries on steps that could be implemented to lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Additional measures may be put in place following these consultations.

The Winnipeg Health region includes the City of Winnipeg, along with the City of Selkirk, Town of Stonewall, RM of Cartier, RM of Headingley, RM of Macdonald, RM of Ritchot, RM of Rockwood, RM of Rosser, RM of Springfield, RM of St. Andrews, RM of St. Clements, RM of St. Francois Xavier, RM of Tache, RM of West St. Paul, RM of East St. Paul, Town of Niverville and Village Dunnottar.

Public health officials have advised River East Collegiate in Winnipeg of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school on Sept. 18. Based on the public health investigations, the exposure was assessed to be low risk. The infection was not acquired at school.

In addition, public health officials have declared the COVID-19 outbreaks over at Fred Douglas Lodge and Concordia Place personal care homes. The site have returned to the Caution (yellow) level 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 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.