Doctor Brent Roussin shares that while the increased case numbers are larger than what Manitobans are used to seeing, many of the new cases are from isolated clusters.

The province announced 72 new cases Sunday, 47 of which are linked to intentional testing campaigns related to known clusters in communal living communities in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

There are also seven cases related to an outbreak at Bethesda Place personal care home in Steinbach, with both staff and residents testing positive.

The data shows one new case in Northern Health Region, one in the Interlake-Easter Regional Health Authority, 45 in the Prairie Mountain Health region, 16 in Southern Health, Nine in Winnipeg.

There are currently seven hospitalizations, one in intensive care. There are 356 active cases and 576 individuals have recovered. The number of deaths remains at 12.

Manitobans are reminded Prairie Mountain Health region has been elevated to the restricted level (orange) according to the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. As of Monday, Aug. 24, masks will be mandatory in all public indoor places and at all indoor and outdoor public gatherings in the region. Public gatherings will also be restricted to 10 people, both indoors and outdoors. Manitobans within this region are encouraged to take these extra precautions immediately to help slow the spread of this virus. Public health officials continue to monitor the regions with increased cases closely to see if additional restrictions are necessary.

Manitobans are strongly encouraged to return to the fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This means not going out while you feel ill, practicing proper hand hygiene, covering your cough, not sharing items, and physical distancing when you are with people outside your household. If you can’t physical distance, wear a mask.

Unless recommended by public health, 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. The online assessment tool can be found online and COVID-19 symptoms can be found on the provincial website.

Testing numbers show an additional 1,839 laboratory tests were completed on Saturday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 125,300.