Manitoba recorded 447 new COVID-19 cases Friday and 14 new deaths.
Two cases were removed due to a data correction, said the province, bringing the new total to 445. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba has passed the 20,000 mark and is now 20,392.
The deaths include:
- two men in their 50s from Winnipeg;
- a man in his 70s from the Interlake-Eastern health region;
- a woman in her 70s from Winnipeg and linked to outbreak at the Health Science Centre GD4;
- a woman in her 80s from Winnipeg;
- two women in their 80s from Winnipeg and linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home;
- a man in his 80s from Winnipeg;
- a woman in her 80s from Winnipeg and linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre;
- a woman in her 90s from Winnipeg and linked to the outbreak at the Saul & Claribel Simkin Centre;
- a woman in her 90s from Winnipeg and linked to the outbreak at the Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home;
- a man in his 90s from the Southern health region and linked to the outbreak at Rest Haven Nursing Home;
- a man in his 90s from Winnipeg; and
- a woman in her 100s from the Southern health region and linked to the outbreak at Villa Youville Personal Care Home.
Roussin said they had new data to share, including that in Manitoba, 7.5 per cent of people who contract COVID-19 will experience a severe outcome, including hospitalization, complications or death.
In addition, right now, 3 in 10 cases are First Nations peoples and half the patients in hospital are First Nations.
Roussin said he’s heard of plans to get children together from the same cohort, and reminded people that this was not allowed.
“We have to stay on guard … we can’t have a lot of socialization over the holiday season.”
He urged families to be creative, and do things like drop off meals and celebrate together virtually.
The latest round of public health orders go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and will remain in place until at least early January, Roussin said Tuesday.
The new rules will be similar to those that have been in place since mid-November, but changes will allow for drive-in events like religious services and the Red River Ex’s annual drive-through light show, as long as only members of the same household are in the vehicle, and no one leaves their cars.
The new rules will also allow thrift stores to open and sell non-essential items — something still banned for larger retails under the orders.
The orders will also add new items to the list of essential items allowed for sale at all stores, including school supplies and cultural and religious items such as menorahs, Christmas decorations. and wrapping paper.
Acupuncturists and manual osteopathy practices will be allowed to operate under the adjusted orders, which also clear up the rules around foodbanks and other charities, which he said are allowed to prepare food and come together to prepare and distribute hampers.
The Winnipeg Jets will also be allowed to practice for a planned National Hockey League season this winter.
On Friday, Mayor Brian Bowman said the city will open outdoor skating rinks now that public health orders allow outside activities in groups of five or less and are members of the same household.
“We going to get those rinks open as fast as possible,” said Jason Shaw, the city’s emergency measures guru, adding that making the rinks ready will take some time to get ready.
There is still some clarification needed around how many people can be on the rinks at the same time, said Shaw.