Public health officials advise that one new death in a person with COVID-19 has been reported today:
- a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 7.2 per cent provincially and 8.2 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 295 new cases of the virus have been identified. However, five cases have been removed due to data correction. This brings the net-new number of cases today to 290 and the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 38,729.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
- 12 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
- 17 cases in the Northern health region;
- 50 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 29 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 187 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
- 2,375 active cases and 35,380 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
- 87 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 62 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 149 hospitalizations;
- 24 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 15 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 39 ICU patients;
- 3,526 laboratory tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 660,625; and
- the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 974.

Additional data on variants of concern is updated from Tuesday to Saturday at https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/. Data related to COVID-19, outbreaks and some downloadable and historic data can also be found at this site.

Other 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.

As Manitoba moves through its third wave, testing numbers have begun to increase steadily. Public health officials are reminding Manitobans that in most cases, they should only seek testing at a provincial test site if they are symptomatic, have been identified as a close contact or have been directed to be tested by public health. This will help ensure those who need to be tested can continue to access testing as easily as possible.

Manitobans have several options available to access testing including drive-thru, walk-in or by booking an appointment by calling toll-free 1-855-268-4318 or online at select sites through https://patient.petalmd.com/login?groupId=5930&locale=en.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, including the online screening tool, testing criteria and locations, self-isolation requirements, public health fundamentals and the provincial response level on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.

Vaccine Eligibility

Eligibility for the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine has expanded to include people aged 30 to 39 with priority health conditions. A complete list is available online.

Eligibility for super sites and pop-up clinics has expanded to include people aged 18 and older who:
• are pregnant;
• are a client of Community Living disABILITY Services;
• work in any health-care setting including outpatient settings (expanded from previous eligibility); or
• work in the vaccine warehouse.

These individuals can begin booking appointments at super sites or pop-up clinics at 2 p.m. today.

All adults aged 18 and older who live or work in specified jobs in these priority communities can continue make an appointment:
• Prairie Mountain Health – Brandon East End and Brandon Downtown;
• Winnipeg Regional Health Authority – Inkster West, Fort Garry South, Seven Oaks West, Downtown East, Point Douglas South, Inkster East, Point Douglas North and Downtown West; and
• Interlake–Eastern Regional Health Authority – Powerview - Pine Falls.

All adults who live or work (in any role) in the Northern Regional Health Authority, as well as Churchill, are also eligible.

A map and other information about community-based eligibility is available at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html#community-based.

For anyone living outside of these specified communities, eligibility to be immunized at a super site or pop-up clinic includes individuals aged 50 or older and First Nation people aged 30 or older.

Anyone who has been in Manitoba for one month or more can receive the vaccine at no cost if they meet provincial eligibility requirements.