Public health officials advise five new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

a female in her 60s from Southern Health-Sante Sud health region (reported Friday) linked to a B.1.617.2 (delta) variant of concern;
a male in his 60s from the Northern health region (reported Friday) linked to an unspecified variant of concern;
a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Friday) linked to an unspecified variant of concern;
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Friday) linked to an unspecified variant of concern; and
a female in her 50s from the Prairie Mountain Health region (reported Monday) linked to an unspecified variant of concern.

Today's five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.3 per cent provincially and 1.4 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 339 new cases of the virus have been identified since Thursday: 92 cases on Friday., Oct 15; 108 cases Saturday, Oct 16., 88 cases Sunday, Oct 17 and 51 cases today. This includes:

21 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
53 cases in the Northern health region;
56 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
128 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
81 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

Nine cases have been removed due to data correction, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 62,230.

There were 51 new cases identified in Manitoba today. Of these, 36 are in individuals who were not fully vaccinated. This includes:

three new cases, with three not fully vaccinated, in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
two new cases with zero not fully vaccinated, in the Northern health region;
11 new cases with seven not fully vaccinated, in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
26 new cases, with 22 not fully vaccinated, in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
Nine new cases, with four not fully vaccinated, in the Winnipeg health region.

Today’s data also shows:

976 active cases and 60,023 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
90 Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 including 52 people with active COVID-19 as well as 38 people who are no longer infectious;
a total of 16 Manitoba patients receiving intensive care for COVID-19, including 11 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as five people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care;
2010 laboratory tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 1,054,101 and
the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 1,231.

An outbreak has been declared at St Augustine’s School in Brandon. One class has been moved to remote learning and moved to Restricted (Orange) level on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.

The outbreak has been declared over at Miniota School in Miniota.

VACCINES

Manitoba is expanding its recommendations for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to include First Nation people living on reserve. This includes an estimated 7,200 people. The third dose should be given at least six months after the last vaccine. The Integrated Vaccine Operations Centre, which is co-led by First Nations and the federal government, is being reactivated to oversee the third dose rollout and co-ordinate other supports that communities may need.

Beginning today, individuals can make an appointment for their seasonal flu vaccine at provincial, regional or urban Indigenous sites using the provincial call centre or online booking system originally put in place for the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals can receive their seasonal flu, COVID-19 or both vaccines at these sites at the same time, if they choose.

The online vaccine finder at protectmb.ca shows locations where these vaccines are available, including where walk-ins are available. Many medical clinics and pharmacies with seasonal flu and/or the COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be listed, with information about how to book at these locations.

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.

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