124 cases announced due to ‘backlog’, 35th death announced

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124 cases announced due to ‘backlog’, 35th death announced

October 13, 2020

Manitoba Public Health announced there were 124 new cases of the virus on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. The total number of lab-confirmed cases stands at 2,779.

Of the 124 news cases, 26 were identified Monday, 83 were identified Sunday and 15 were identified Saturday but were not reported until today due to backlog issues said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer.

Officials announced the 35th death due to COVID-19, a male in his 70s from the Southern Health region.

The five-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is 3.5 per cent

16 cases in the Interlake-Eastern Health region, nine cases in the Southern Health region, three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region, one case in Northern Health region and 95 cases in the Winnipeg Health region.

28 people are currently in hospital with five people being treated in intensive care according to public health.

The number of deaths related to COVID-19 is 35.

There are currently 1,248 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with 1,059 of those in Winnipeg, 1,496 people are listed as recovered.

2,188 laboratory tests were completed yesterday. According to Manitoba Public Health, the total number of completed tests since early February is 213,669.

Manitoba Public Health have declared an outbreak at Headingley Correctional Centre after seven inmates and two staff have tested positive for the virus. 150 inmates are self-isolating. The institution has moved to Critical (RED) on the Pandemic Response System. Visitation and transfers have been stopped at the facility.

Four additional education facilities have been identified as possible exposure sites:

Winnipeg Adult Education Centre at 310 Vaughan St. in Winnipeg on Oct. 5. Based on the public health investigation, the risk of this exposure was assessed to be low. The infection was not believed to be acquired at school. The cohort is being advised to self-monitor for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms develop.
Daniel McIntyre Collegiate at 720 Alverstone St. in Winnipeg on Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 1. Based on the public health investigation, the risk of this exposure was assessed to be low. The infection was not believed to be acquired at school. The cohort is being advised to self-monitor for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms develop.
Dakota Collegiate at 661 Dakota St. in Winnipeg with two cases on Oct. 6 and Oct. 5, 6, and 7. Based on the public health investigation, the risk of these exposures was assessed to be low and are not linked. The infection was not believed to be acquired at school. Close contacts to one of the cases have been contacted to quarantine. The rest of the cohorts are being advised to self-monitor for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms develop.
Dufferin School, 545 Alexander Ave., Winnipeg on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, this is the second case from the same cohort as a previous case at the school. This cohort and other close contacts have been advised to self-isolate (quarantine). While the investigation was not able to confirm if transmission took place at the school, the risk to the school community is still considered low.

Public health has amended the travel restrictions to northern Manitoba for compassionate or care-giving reasons. People not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 may travel to the north or a remote community to:

care for a family member or friend who is seriously ill but is not in a health-care facility;
visit a family member or friend who is in a health-care facility with a life-threatening illness or injury if the health-care facility has authorized the visit;
attend the funeral of a family member or friend.

The province is working to reduce wait times for COVID-19 testing and will be introducing an appointment-based system. Manitobans with symptoms will be able to call or go online to schedule appointments. Officials say that the appointment system will be rolled out over the next few weeks.

Public health is continuing to advise Winnipeg residents and visitors to the city to stay home if sick, wash your hands, cover your cough and physically distance when you are with people outside your household. If you cannot physically distance, you should wear a mask to help reduce your risk. Reduce the number of close contacts outside your household, and avoid closed-in or crowded spaces.

Officials advise that only people showing symptoms of COVID-19 should go for testing. If you do have symptoms you should seek testing as soon as possible once symptoms appear.