The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 8.9 per cent and 312 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30am on November 1, 2020, which brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 6,034.

The test positivity rate in Winnipeg is 9.9 per cent. Officials advise this number is less reliable due to the smaller sample size. Also, it does not reflect the situation in other parts of the province, as cases continue to be identified outside Winnipeg.

Public health officials advise six additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:

  • a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, related to an outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home;
  • a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, related to an outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home;
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, related to an outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home;
  • a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, related to an outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home;
  • a male in his 50s from the Steinbach district in Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, related to an outbreak at St. Boniface Hospital.

Updated information announced in the previous bulletin, about the death of a male from the Winnipeg region in his 80s, indicates the case was related to an outbreak at St. Boniface Hospital.

Today’s data shows:

  • 25 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
  • 16 cases in the Northern health region;
  • seven cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
  • 26 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
  • 238 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:

  • 3,255 active cases and 2,704 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
  • there are 120 people in hospital and 18 people in intensive care; and
  • the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 75.

As of this morning, there continues to be ICU capacity in Manitoba. As noted last week, officials continue planning for the introduction of additional ICU capacity if needed. Planning also continues around surgical capacity based on urgency and local needs. At this time, patients should plan to proceed with scheduled procedures unless notified otherwise.

Laboratory testing numbers show 3,697 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 259,752. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

Public health officials have advised the Women’s Correctional Centre in Headingley is being moved to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. An outbreak has been declared and visitor restrictions are in place.

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.

Effective Monday, Nov. 2, the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region will move to the Critical level (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. The Southern Health-Santé Sud, Prairie Mountain Health and Interlake-Eastern health regions will move to the Restricted level (orange) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. The Northern health region moved to the Restricted level (orange) on Oct. 26.

The chief provincial public health officer urges Manitobans to not socialize with people from outside their household, to cut down the number of close contacts, 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.

Public health guidance for Halloween trick-or-treating has been developed. If people do choose to participate in trick-or-treating this year, information is available on how to do it safely at manitoba.ca.

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.