Manitoba’s list of COVID-19 cases surpassed the 30,000 mark as health officials reported one additional death from the virus Friday.
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, reported 110 new infections, bringing the province’s total number of cases recorded since March to 30,078.
The latest death, a woman in her 40s from the Winnipeg area, brings the province’s COVID-19 death toll to 838.
Friday’s new infections include 38 cases in the Winnipeg Health region, 11 cases in the Southern Health region, eight cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region, 40 cases in the Northern Health region, and 13 cases in the Interlake-Eastern Health region.
Provincial data also shows there are 3,353 active cases of COVID-19 across Manitoba.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is six per cent provincially and 3.5 per cent in Winnipeg.
There are now 269 people in hospital as a result of novel coronavirus and 40 patients in ICU connected to the virus, according to provincial data.
Laboratory testing numbers show 2,232 tests were completed Thursday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 486,535.
Roussin said an outbreak at Dauphin Regional Health Centre in Dauphin has been declared over.
Updated information on outbreaks can be found on the province’s website. A list of recent possible COVID-19 exposures can also be found online.
The province launched a new online dashboard this week it says will provide up-to-date information about COVID-19 cases at public and independent schools.
On Thursday, when two additional deaths and 110 new cases were reported, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said his government is considering further loosening some of the province’s COVID-19 restrictions, including allowing restaurants, bars and gyms to reopen at 25 per cent capacity.
He said Manitoba’s COVID-19 curve continues to bend in the right direction after the province eased tough restrictions implemented in November, but he added the province must move cautiously in light of the risks associated with vaccine delays and new COVID-19 variants.
–With files from The Canadian Press
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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