Health officials say another two Manitobans have died from COVID-19 and 97 more people have been infected with the virus.
The latest cases announced on the province’s online COVID-19 portal Monday bring the province’s total number of cases reported since March to 31,483.
The latest victims of the virus are both woman in their 90s from the Winnipeg area, one connected to an outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre.
Their deaths bring the province’s COVID-19 death toll to 886.
The latest cases include 54 cases in the Winnipeg Health region, two cases in the Southern Health region, one cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region, 36 cases in the Northern Health region, and four cases in the Interlake-Eastern Health region.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 5.4 per cent provincially and 4.4 per cent in Winnipeg.
There are now 206 people in hospital as a result of novel coronavirus and 32 patients in ICU connected to the virus, according to provincial data.
Provincial data also shows there are 1,219 active cases and 29.378 people who have recovered from COVID-19.
Laboratory testing numbers show 1,790 tests for COVID-19 were completed Sunday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 514,357.
The province’s chief public health officer says there are no new cases involving variants of concern, such as the B.1.1.7 variant first seen in the United Kingdom.
Four such cases have been identified to date, all related to travel.
On Sunday, health officials announced two additional deaths connected with COVID-19, and 58 new infections.
Vaccination efforts
The latest vaccination numbers from the province show 62,365 doses of vaccine have been administered including 37,130 first doses and 25,235 second doses.
Health officials say focused immunization teams are continuing to give first doses to those living at congregate living facilities in Winnipeg and Brandon this week.
They say efforts are on track to see all eligible residents of personal care homes who want a shot vaccinated with two doses by the end of February.
Roughly 4,000 residents in 55 personal care homes received their second shot last week, the province said Monday, and an estimated 1,500 more residents at 44 personal care homes are expected to get their second dose this week.
The province has expanded the criteria for those eligible to make an appointment for the vaccine. Those now eligible include:
- all staff (including those without direct patient care) who work in eligible congregate living facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1960 (expanded from Dec. 31, 1955); or
• health-care workers providing services insured by Manitoba Health and Seniors Care in one or more of the following settings, with no age restrictions (expanded from Dec. 31, 1965):
– primary care clinics (e.g., family physicians and/or nurse practitioner clinics);
– outpatient diagnostic imaging facilities;
– outpatient laboratories;
– outpatient surgical units; and
– specialty physician clinics, such as cardiology and psychiatry.
Those eligible for vaccinations can call 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) to make an appointment. Eligibility criteria is available on the province’s website.
The province says while Manitobans aged 95 and older and First Nation people aged 75 and older will be able to begin booking vaccinations later this week, those who fit into that criteria are asked not to call in to book an appointment just yet. More information on when to call will be coming soon, the province says.
Provincial data shows Manitoba has so far received 84,810 doses of vaccine, including 62,010 doses of Pfizer vaccine and 22,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
On Monday health officials said the province expects to receive another 17,500 doses of Pfizer and 6,100 doses of Moderna vaccine this week.
–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, visit our coronavirus page.
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