The province says 10 more people have died due to COVID-19.
In his first solo press conference, Dr. Jazz Atwal updated the province on the latest numbers Friday.
The acting deputy chief provincial public health officer said while numbers are going down slowly, deaths are still happening and told people to wash their hands, wear their masks and stay home.
The deaths include:
- a man in his 40s from the Southern Health health region;
- a man in his 50s from the Southern Health health region, linked to the outbreak at the Morris General Hospital;
- a woman in her 60s from Winnipeg;
- a woman in her 70s from the Southern Health health region;
- a woman in her 80s from the Interlake–Eastern health region, linked to the outbreak at Kin Place;
- a man in his 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at the Gilbert Plains personal care home;
- a man in his 80s from the Southern Health health region, linked to the outbreak at the Salem Home;
- a woman in her 90s from Winnipeg, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg;
- a woman in her 90s from Winnipeg, linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre; and
- a man in his 90s from the Southern Health health region.
The province registered 350 new cases on Friday, and 305 people are in hospital. with 43 people in ICU. The total number of deaths now sits at 547.
The Manitoba government announced an additional 900 health-care workers can now book immunization appointments for the novel coronavirus.
As of Friday evening, 420 appointments have been made for the next clinic which will take place Dec. 21-23.
Those health-care workers who work with patients directly and meet the following criteria can book appointments:
- work in critical care units, born on or before Dec. 31, 1970;
- work in acute care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1960;
- work in long term care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1960; or
- be assigned to COVID-19 immunization clinics.
Premier Brian Pallister noted that only those who qualify can call for an appointment, and those who try to get around the system are making things much harder for workers to book appointments.
“We want to remind Manitobans these first priority appointments are only available for eligible health-care workers at this time and the phone lines should be reserved for their use,” said Pallister.
“We expect additional shipments of the vaccine in the coming weeks and we will expand eligibility criteria as supply is confirmed from the federal government so we can work toward providing a vaccine to all Manitobans who wish to receive one.”
The first 900 health-care workers were immunized this past week.
Atwal said no one had any serious or adverse reactions to the vaccine.