Another Manitoban with COVID-19 has died and 64 new cases of the virus have been identified across the province, health officials say.
The latest victim, a man in his 70s from the Southern Health region, brings the province’s total number of deaths connected to COVID-19 to 889.
Twenty-six of the new cases were found in Winnipeg, two came from the Southern Health region, 33 were identified in the Northern Health region, and three were reported in the Interlake-Eastern Health region. No new cases were reported in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
Since the first infection was reported in Manitoba last March, the province has now recorded 31,721 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Provincial data also shows there are currently 1,197 active cases in Manitoba.
Earlier in the day Friday the federal government announced it has approved Oxford–AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine, making it the third shot officially authorized in the country.
Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead for Manitoba’s vaccination task force, says there’s no indication yet about how much of the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine will come to the province.
But she says 250 clinics and pharmacies are ready to provide doses when it arrives.
Earlier this week Manitoba started offering COVID-19 vaccines to the general public, beginning with First Nations people 75 and over and for others 95 and up.
On Friday that age eligibility was expanded to include all Manitobans born on or before Dec. 31, 1928, and all First Nations people born on or before Dec. 31, 1948.
The number of new infections has been steadily decreasing in Manitoba over recent weeks and hospitalization rates are dropping.
There were 191 people in hospital as a result of novel coronavirus as of Friday morning and 28 patients in ICU connected to the virus, according to provincial data.
Health officials say a new outbreak has been declared at Actionmarguerite St. Joseph in Winnipeg.
Meanwhile a previously declared outbreak at Southeast Personal Care Home in Winnipeg has ended, the province said Friday.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.9 per cent provincially and 3.3 per cent in Winnipeg.
Laboratory testing numbers show 1,927 tests were completed Thursday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 521,826.
Loosened restrictions floated
On Thursday, the Manitoba government said it is looking at easing many of its COVID-19 restrictions.
A set of proposed changes includes doubling capacity limits in stores and restaurants, as well as for personal services, to 50 per cent. Seating at restaurant tables would still be limited to members of the same household.
Indoor religious services could operate at 25 per cent capacity instead of the current 10 per cent.
Indoor arcades and outdoor amusement parks could reopen with capacity limits. The few facilities that would have to remain closed include theatres, concert halls and casinos.
The cap on outdoor gatherings would rise to 10 people from five. And instead of households being permitted to designate only two people as visitors, the province could allow two-household bubbles so entire families could get together.
The proposed changes could take effect as early as March 5 and are subject to public feedback before any final decisions are made, he said. Changes could also be phased in.
Health officials reported 70 new COVID-19 cases and one death Thursday. Three cases from unspecified dates were removed due to data correction for a net increase of 67.
The province’s case count has dropped sharply since a severe spike in the fall when Manitoba led all the provinces in the per-capita rate of new infections. The strain on intensive care units has eased and the test positivity rate has dropped from 13 per cent to 4.3.
The proposed changes could also mean big shifts for sports enthusiasts and players of video lottery terminals. VLTs would be allowed to operate again as long as they were two metres apart or separated by physical barriers.
Indoor gyms and fitness facilities could offer group classes again, although with a 25 per cent capacity limit.
The province is asking Manitobans to weigh in on the proposed changes through an online survey.
–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.
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