The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 4.7 per cent provincially and 3.6 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30am on March 18, 2021, 91 new cases of the virus have been identified. However, two cases have been removed due to data correction. This brings the net-new number of cases today to 89 and the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 33,085.

Public health officials advise one additional death in a person with COVID-19 is being reported today:

  • a female in her 60s from Southern Health-Santé Sud region and linked to the outbreak at the Portage District General Hospital.

Public health officials are announcing 11 additional confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant of concern first identified in the United Kingdom. Nine cases are in the Winnipeg health region and two are in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region. One confirmed case of the B.1.351 COVID-19 variant of concern first identified in South Africa has been detected in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Case investigations continue and if public health identifies a risk, the public will be notified.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

  • four cases in Interlake-Eastern health region;
  • 42 cases in the Northern health region;
  • six cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
  • six cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
  • 33 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:

  • 1,089 active cases and 31,078 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
  • 60 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 86 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 146 hospitalizations;
  • 11 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 12 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 23 ICU patients;
  • the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 918; and
  • the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases of B.1.1.7 is 63 and B.1.351 is 13, bringing the total number of confirmed variant of concern cases to 76.

Laboratory testing numbers show 2,473 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 557,277.

Additional data related to COVID-19, including data on outbreaks as well as some downloadable and historic data, can be found at geoportal.gov.mb.ca.

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.

The chief provincial public health officer reminds Manitobans to self-isolate immediately at the onset of possible COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild. This means staying home from work, school or other daily activities, and not visiting with others. Testing should be done as soon as possible once symptoms appear. For information on COVID-19 symptoms and guidance on when you should be tested, visit manitoba.ca.

Manitobans are encouraged to travel only if essential and be sure to physically distance, wear a mask in indoor public places and avoid crowded spaces. Do not leave the home if you are sick, or when any member of your family is sick. Further, only socialize with your two designated people as per the current public health orders.

Public health officials are also advising that if anyone is symptomatic, or has a household member who is symptomatic, the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. For health-care workers, exceptions may apply and staff may be able/required to report to work after contacting their workplace occupational health services or designate. For information on self-isolation, including exceptions, visit gov.mb.ca.

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