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

a female in her 70s from the Interlake-Eastern health region; and
a male in his 60s from the Interlake-Eastern health region.

Today's five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 2.3 per cent provincially and 1.1 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 244 new cases of the virus have been identified since Thursday: 88 cases on Friday, Sept. 17; 54 cases on Saturday, Sept. 18; 60 cases on Sunday Sept. 19; and 42 cases today.

Ten cases have been removed due to data correction, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 59,759.

There were 42 new cases identified in Manitoba today. Of these, 30 are in individuals who were not fully vaccinated. This includes:

14 new cases, with 12 not fully vaccinated, in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
two new cases, with one not fully vaccinated, in the Northern health region;
two new cases, with two not fully vaccinated, in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
nine new cases, with eight not fully vaccinated, in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
15 new cases, with seven not fully vaccinated, in the Winnipeg health region.

Today’s data also shows:

598 active cases and 57,956 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
66 Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 including 32 people with active COVID-19 as well as 34 people who are no longer infectious;
a total of 14 Manitoba patients receiving intensive care for COVID-19 including eight people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as six people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care;
2,463 laboratory tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 970,568 and
the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 1,205.

Vaccines

Third-dose eligibility is expanding today to include all residents and staff of First Nation personal care homes. This will further expand in October to provide third doses to residents of all personal care homes throughout the province.

This builds on last week’s initial eligibility criteria for third doses, which included people who are immunocompromised, require a third dose for travel or who previously received doses of vaccines that are not approved by Health Canada. For more information about third doses, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html#third.

Eligibility for first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine continues to include anyone born on or before Dec. 31, 2009.

Manitoba has identified criteria for the very small number of people who cannot or should not be immunized and may be eligible for a medical exemption. A process to submit requests for medical exemptions will be put in place in the coming weeks. More information is available at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html#exemptions.

 

Public health officials advise that all federal polling stations throughout the province of Manitoba are required to adhere to current public health orders. Masks are to be worn at all indoor public places, including polling stations, and the fundamentals of physical distancing and proper hand hygiene must be followed.

Manitobans are reminded that provincial testing sites are available for individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who have been identified as a close contact by public health officials. Provincial testing sites do not routinely provide testing services for workplace asymptomatic screening programs or outbound travellers.

Employers wishing to implement regular screening for staff should connect with their usual sector connection point with the provincial government to explore antigen-based rapid test options that may be available.

There are a number of alternative private-sector testing options available to support testing needs for travellers for a fee. Travellers are reminded to check the requirements of the destination country prior to seeking testing. For information on where to access testing for travel, visit: www.biomb.ca/covid-19-testing.

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#eventand 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.

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.