COVID-19: Slight drop in hospitalizations, another death reported in Manitoba

Another Manitoban with COVID-19 has died as health officials report a slight drop in the number people hospitalized with the virus.

The latest death, reported on the province’s online COVID-19 dashboard, brings Manitoba’s COVID-19 death toll to 1,717.

Meanwhile Manitoba’s COVID-19 hospitalization and ICU numbers are falling to levels not seen in several months.

As of Tuesday, 18 people are in ICU with the virus, down two from Monday. It’s the lowest number seen since Oct. 19, according to records kept by Global News.

2:21 Concerns after restrictions lifted for unvaxxed health-care workers

In all, health officials say there are currently 410 patients in hospital as a result of COVID-19, four fewer than Monday, and the the lowest reported since Jan. 6.

The latest COVID-19 data comes the same day Manitoba lifts all remaining public health orders that were put in place to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.

As of Tuesday masks are no longer required to be worn in public spaces, and travel restrictions to northern Manitoba and isolation requirements for people who test positive for COVID-19 have also ended.

Masks will still have to be worn by anyone going to a health-care facility and health officials are still recommending those who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for five days after symptoms start.

— With files from Skylar Peters and 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.