The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.7 per cent and 44 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30am on October 18, 2020, bringing the total number of cases in Manitoba to 3,302.

Public health officials advise the 39th and 40th deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported, a male in his 70s and a female in her 70s, both from the Winnipeg health region. These cases were previously announced.

Today’s data shows:

  • nine cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
  • two cases in the Northern health region;
  • two case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
  • six cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
  • 25 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:

  • 1,675 active cases and 1,587 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
  • there are 29 people in hospital and six people in intensive care; and
  • the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 40.

Laboratory testing numbers show 2,479 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 225,214. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

Possible exposure locations are listed online by region at the province’s #RestartMB Pandemic Response System webpage. For up-to-date information on possible public exposures to COVID-19 in regions, visit gov.mb.ca  and click on your region.

With the growing number of cases in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, the province is introducing targeted measures under the Restricted (orange) level of the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System to reduce community spread of the virus by reducing close, prolonged contact  between people. These measures will come into effect tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 19, for a minimum of two weeks. For more information, visit manitoba.ca.

The chief provincial public health officer strongly encourages Manitobans to reduce the number of close contacts outside their household, and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces. In addition, they should focus on these fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19:

  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Wash/sanitize your hands and cover your cough.
  • Physically distance when you are with people outside your household.
  • If you cannot physically distance, wear a mask to help reduce the risk to others or as required by public health orders.

Unless recommended by public health officials, only individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should go for testing. Individuals with symptoms are asked to seek testing as soon as possible once symptoms are present. Employers are asked to only send employees for testing if they have symptoms or if testing has been recommended by public health officials.

The online assessment tool can be found at sharedhealthmb.ca and COVID-19 symptoms can be found at gov.mb.ca.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit manitoba.ca.

For up-to-date information on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit manitoba.ca.

Updated enforcement statistics are posted online and updated weekly. For more information, go to Cross-Departmental Reports at gov.mb.ca.