WINNIPEG – COVID-19 Update – Manitoba continues to see cases of the COVID-19 virus continue to climb.
There are, as of December 18, 2020, 5,602 active cases in the province. There are 305 people in hospital with 43 people in intensive care due to COVID-19; and the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 547.
The province is expanding testing for the virus, and are looking at measures to ensure that the care homes in the province can remain staffed.
Manitoba is also planning asymptomatic testing. This is to get underway next week starting on December 21, 2020. Dr. Atwal told media that Manitoba will be analyzing data from the month-long pan-bio testing project at Donwood Manor and Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg and Country Meadows home in Neepawa.
“Following that trial run, we’ll have some better information on if the test works, how well it works and the utility of that test to be rolled out to, perhaps, other places if it does seem to be of benefit,” says Atwal.
Public health officials advise 10 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including:
- a male in his 40s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
- a male in his 50s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at the Morris General Hospital;
- a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
- a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
- a female in her 80s from the Interlake–Eastern health region, linked to the outbreak at Kin Place;
- a male in his 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at the Gilbert Plains personal care home;
- a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at the Salem Home;
- 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 Charleswood Care Centre; and
- a male in his 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.6 per cent provincially and 13.1 in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. on December 18, 2020, there are 350 new cases of the virus have been identified and brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 22,397.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
- 40 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
- 89 cases in the Northern health region;
- 31 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 57 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 133 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
The data also shows:
- 5,602 active cases and 16,248 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
- there are 305 people in hospital with 43 people in intensive care due to COVID-19; and
- the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 547.
Laboratory testing numbers show 2,167 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 398,970. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
