61 actives cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, province sharing equipment

"Friendly Manitoba" is diverting one hundred unneeded vital sign monitors to Toronto and Montreal.

Public health officials advise one new case of COVID-19 was identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 263.

The data also shows:

• seven individuals are currently hospitalized, which includes three individuals in intensive care;
• 61 active cases and 196 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
• the number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at six.

As of yesterday, an additional 786 laboratory tests were performed. This brings the total number of tests performed since early February to 22,172.

Over the past four weeks, a number of non-urgent surgical and diagnostic procedures have been postponed for patients identified as being clinically able to wait without risk of negative outcomes. Postponements are part of the provincial effort to ensure flexibility and availability in the allocation of staff, beds, equipment and supplies required to respond to COVID-19.

Case-by-case clinical assessment has ensured urgent and emergent procedures, as well as those patients who may become urgent or emergent during the postponement timeframe, are completed. Patient safety and avoiding negative outcomes remain the priority.

Over the next week, a number of facilities across the province will begin to increase their surgical activity. This includes increased surgical activity at Health Sciences Centre, the Pan Am Clinic, Concordia Hospital, Misericordia Health Centre, Grace Hospital, St. Boniface Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Selkirk Regional Health Centre and Brandon General Hospital.