Today’s five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 32.4 per cent provincially. As of 9:30am on January 26, 2021, 637 new cases of the virus have been identified. The province estimates that actual case numbers are eight to 10 times higher than reported due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant, which has overwhelmed testing capacity and led to many cases going unreported.

Information about COVID-19 in Manitoba is updated weekdays at 12:30 p.m. on these DataMB dashboards:

Based on provincial data, public health officials are highlighting the following trends for the week ending Jan. 20:

  • People who are not fully vaccinated are three times as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, seven times as likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit and five times as likely to die with COVID-19. Case and risk by vaccination status data is updated each Wednesday at geoportal.gov.mb.ca.

Manitoba continues to report on the recorded number of COVID-19 cases. However, it is important to note this data is limited and should be used with caution. It includes cases confirmed by a PCR test as well as rapid tests given by health care professionals. Positive test results from rapid antigen tests, which people generally do at home, are not collected or reported. As a result, these numbers are an under-reporting of COVID-19 in the community.

Key Updates

To more closely align schools and early learning child-care centres (ELCC) COVID-19 guidance, notification of close contacts by child care centres is no longer required. Attendance of children and staff will be based on symptom screening. Children or staff exposed to COVID-19 in the child care and school settings may continue to attend child care and school if they are asymptomatic. Public health will continue to monitor the overall cases in child care centres and may contact a facility if increased COVID-19 activities is suspected.

Appointments are available at the 820 Taylor Ave. location for rapid antigen test pickup to eligible Manitobans. Non-eligible people will be turned away. Clients are encouraged to bring proof of booking confirmation, but appointments can be confirmed onsite if needed. For more information about how to book an appointment and hours of operation at this and other sites, visit gov.mb.ca.

Only symptomatic individuals or those advised by public health should visit a COVID-19 provincial testing site. Rapid antigen tests will continue to be used for the majority of people visiting a provincial testing site. Those who are at higher risk of severe illness as well as some groups who have tested positive on a rapid antigen test will still be eligible for PCR testing. Detailed information on updated COVID-19 testing eligibility can be found at gov.mb.ca.

Deaths

Public health officials advise 10 new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

  • a male in his 70s from Southern Health-Santé Sud (reported Tuesday);
  • a male in his 80s from Southern Health- Santé Sud (reported Tuesday);
  • a female in her 70s from Southern Health- Santé Sud (reported Tuesday);
  • a male in his 60 from the Winnipeg health region (reported Tuesday);
  • a male in his 70s from Southern Health-Santé Sud (reported Tuesday);
  • a male in his 50 from the Winnipeg health region (reported Tuesday);
  • a male in his 80s from Southern Health- Santé Sud (reported Tuesday);
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
  • a male in his 70 from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday); and
  • a female in her 90s from the Interlake-Eastern health region and linked to outbreak at the Betel Home personal care home (reported Wednesday).

Outbreaks

Outbreaks have been declared at:

  • Misericordia Place, Winnipeg;
  • Health Sciences Centre, GB3, Winnipeg;
  • Eriksdale personal care home, Erikdale; and
  • Swan Valley Health Centre, extended treatment unit, Swan Valley.

Outbreak declared over at:

  • Children’s Hospital, CK5 oncology unit, Winnipeg;
  • Seven Oaks General Hospital, units 4U4-7 and 4U8-12, Winnipeg;
  • Brandon Regional Health Centre, 400 medical unit, Brandon; and
  • Thompson General Hospital, obstetrics and neonatal unit, Thompson.

Enforcement

The Manitoba government is also providing an update on ongoing enforcement efforts to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19. A total of 1,800 inspections occurred, which resulted in 34 warnings and 37 tickets were issued for the week of Jan 17 to 23, including:

  • one $1,296 ticket to an individual;
  • 35 $298 tickets to individuals for failure to wear a mask in an indoor public place; and
  • one information laid to a business for repeated offences where the courts will determine the fine amount (maximum penalty $1-million)

Manitobans are urged to continue reporting compliance and enforcement issues by visiting manitoba.ca and completing the reporting form, or by calling 204-945-3744 or (toll-free) 1-866-626-4862 and pressing option three on the call menu. Updated enforcement statistics are posted online weekly at manitoba.ca.

Tickets issued by health region include:

  • zero tickets in Interlake-Eastern (zero per cent);
  • zero tickets in Northern (zero per cent);
  • zero tickets in Prairie Mountain Health (zero per cent);
  • 36 tickets in Southern Health-Santé Sud (97 per cent); and
  • one ticket in Winnipeg (three per cent).

Vaccine

The RBC provincial vaccine clinic is open for walk-in appointments.

Manitobans who are eligible for a third dose, or booster, are urged to get one. The booster dose is readily available to everyone over age 18 in Manitoba. It is most important that those who are 50 and over get immunized with a third dose right away, because this age group is experiencing – and will continue to experience – more severe outcomes, including hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths.

Manitobans who live in First Nations communities, have diabetes, or are immunocompromised are urged to get a third dose. A complete listing of the medical conditions that would classify a person as immunocompromised can be found at protectmb.ca.

Delivering the second round of vaccines to children ages 5 to 11 is continuing in many locations, including schools. It is recommended by Health Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and public health that the second dose be administered eight weeks following the first dose.

As of today, a total of 68,993 first doses have been given to children ages five to 11, or 55.2 per cent of that age group.

Manitobans are encouraged to get their second and third doses as quickly as possible. While COVID-19 vaccine appointments continue to be available at regional or provincial vaccine clinics, for many people the fastest way to be immunized is at a nearby medical clinic, pharmacy or urban Indigenous clinic. Check the online vaccine finder or a medical clinic or pharmacy near you that provides the COVID-19 vaccine to find the next available opportunity to be immunized. The timeline between second and third doses and eligibility criteria information can be found at manitoba.ca.

Eligible individuals can book their appointments online, by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) or by contacting their local pharmacy or medical clinic directly. Visit gov.mb.ca for some of the available options.

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