Public health officials advise three new deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today:
- a female in her 50s from Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern;
- a male in his 60s from Winnipeg health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern; and
- a male in his 70s from Interlake-Eastern health region, linked to an unspecified variant of concern.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12.1 per cent provincially and 14.4 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 364 new cases of the virus have been identified. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 43,143.


Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
- 50 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
- 10 cases in the Northern health region;
- 34 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 47cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 223 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
- 3,940 active cases and 38,203 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
- 162 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 59 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 221 hospitalizations;
- 50 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 12 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 62 ICU patients;
- 3,567 laboratory tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 705,377 and
- the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 1,000.

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.

An outbreak has been declared at St. Norbert Personal Care Home in St. Norbert. The facility has been moved to the Critical (Red) level on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.

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.

Public health officials are reminding Manitobans that in most cases, they should only seek testing at a provincial test site if they are symptomatic or have been advised by public health that they are a close contact. This will help ensure that 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 at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/locations.html#appointment.

Updated enforcement statistics are posted online weekly. For more information, go to Cross-Departmental Reports at https://manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/departments/index.html.

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.

 

VACCINES

The province announced Wednesday that eligibility to be immunized with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines has been expanded to include all people in Manitoba aged 18 and older. 

Eligible people can now book appointments at all vaccination super sites: Gimli, Dauphin, Steinbach, Winnipeg (RBC Convention Centre and Leila locations), Brandon, Thompson, Selkirk and Morden. Eligible individuals can book their appointment online at https://protectmb.ca with an email address and health card number, or by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC).

Pop-up clinics are taking place in communities throughout the province next week. Appointments can be made by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC).

Indigenous people can also choose to receive their vaccine at urban Indigenous pop-up clinics led by community organizations in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson and Portage la Prairie.

Meantime, people will be able to begin booking second-dose appointments on May 22. Individuals who are immunocompromised or have other prioritized health conditions will be able to book their appointments first. More details on this process will provided soon.

To book a second-dose appointment, people will need to provide the date of their first dose and the type of vaccine received. This information can be accessed at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/immunization-record.html with your health card number and email address. Otherwise, people can contact their local public health office to request this information. A printed copy or proof of immunization is not required to book or attend your second-dose appointment.

Medical clinics and pharmacies will contact people who received their AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine at these locations to book second doses, which are likely to begin in June.

Manitoba is also adjusting its approach to the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine in response to ongoing evidence and supply. First doses can continue to be administered, but only to people who might not otherwise be immunized at other sites. Most doses of this vaccine will now be held for second-dose immunizations only, so people who have received their first dose of this vaccine will be able to receive their second dose within the recommended time frames, following national clinical guidance.

Manitoba is also monitoring decisions on whether different types of vaccines can be used to administer second doses. This decision does not affect Manitoba’s overall timeframe for ensuring all Manitobans 18 and over who wish to be vaccinated to be able to receive a first dose of other vaccines by June 8.

According to the province, 591,497 doses of vaccine have been administered in Manitoba to date.