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.

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.

The chief provincial public health officer urges Manitobans to only leave their homes for essential purposes. When leaving the house to obtain essentials, be sure to physically distance, wear a mask in indoor public places and avoid crowded spaces. Do not leave the home if you are sick, or when any member of your family is sick. Further, do not socialize with anyone from outside your household.

Public health officials are also advising that anyone who is symptomatic, or has a household member who is symptomatic, the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. For health-care workers, exceptions may apply and staff may be able/required to report to work after contacting your workplace occupational health services or designate. For information on self-isolation, including exceptions, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/fundamentals/self-isolation.html.

The online assessment tool can be found at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/ and COVID-19 symptoms can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/fundamentals/symptoms.html.

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.