Manitoba's Deputy Chief Public Health Officer says to expect higher case rates as the province catches up on testing.

As of Wednesday morning, there are 1,790 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 89,050. Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitoba's Deputy Chief Public Health Officer says this is likely an understatement, as there is a 6,800 test backlog. As the province catches up, he says to expect higher case numbers.

"Because of the sheer number of cases, this is more about the impact on the acute care system," Atwal says in the Wednesday press conference.

Last week, 500,00 rapid antigen tests were handed out. Those negative tests would not be recorded as part of the province's test rate, causing the high 40.3 per cent rate.

Atwal says the provincial testing facilities are switching from PCR tests to rapid tests for most people. The person will be given a rapid test to do at home.

Children, people who are unsheltered, having surgery, connected to the outbreak, or have been outside of Canada in the past 14 days will be among those who can still get a PCR test.

For every identified case, Atwal says there could be eight to 10 unidentified cases. He says this means Wednesday's actual new cases could truly be between 16,000 and 17,000.

"There is no silver bullet where one tool works," Atwal says. "I think what we really need to focus in on this. Let's look at the tools we have."

He is asking people to follow all healthcare recommendations to keep themselves and others safe. The doctor is asking leaders to educate their workplaces on COVID-19 safety, asking them to take a look at their workplaces and what can be done to improve safety.

 

New cases

Out of the 1,790 new COVID-19 cases, most come from Winnipeg. All but 279 people were fully vaccinated.

New cases by health regions include:

  • 1,320 in Winnipeg
  • 190 in Southern
  • 116 in Interlake-Eastern
  • 84 in Northern
  • 80 in Prairie Mountain

 

Vaccines

Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead of the COVID-19 vaccine task force in Manitoba, says while omicron is showing to be less severe booster vaccines are needed to keep hospitalizations down.

"Two doses of the vaccine is not protecting against infection of omicron as much as we hope," Reimer says.

She says the booster vaccine works and is urging people to get a third dose to protect against hospitalizations. She says the studies have shown booster increased protection by 55-57 per cent.

 

Hospitalizations and deaths

There are 68,804 recoveries.

There are 252 people in the hospital, with 211 people having active cases.

There are 30 people in intensive care, with all but one person having an active case of the virus.

There are two new deaths, bringing the total to 1,402.

Recent deaths, including from the weekend, include:

  • a male in his 70s from the Prairie Mountain Health region (reported Saturday)
  • a male in his 70s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region (reported Saturday)
  • a male in his 70s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region (reported Saturday)
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Saturday)
  • a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Saturday)
  • a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Monday)
  • a female in her 80s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region (reported Tuesday)
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Tuesday)
  • a female in her 60s from the Northern health region, linked to an unspecified variant of concern (reported Wednesday)
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an unspecified variant of concern (reported Wednesday)

 

Outbreaks

There are many new outbreaks being announced including:

  • Unit 4W, Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg
  • Unit 4U 8-12 at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg
  • Unit GA5/GA5 step down at Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg
  • Unit GD4, at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg
  • Unit GA4, at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg
  • Inpatient Unit, Pinawa General Hospital in Pinawa
  • Oakview Place personal care home in Winnipeg
  • Actionmarguerite St. Vital personal care home in Winnipeg
  • Golden Links Lodge personal care home in Winnipeg
  • Holy Family personal care home in Winnipeg
  • Tuxedo Villa personal care home in Winnipeg
  • St. Amant Centre in Winnipeg
  • Milner Ridge Correctional Centre in Beausejour
  • Middlechurch Home personal care home in Winnipeg
  • Misericordia Health Centre, Transitional Care Unit, C5 in Winnipeg

 

Outbreaks are over at

  • Heritage Lodge personal care home in Winnipeg
  • the Manitoba Developmental Centre in Portage la Prairie
  • École Regent Park in Winnipeg
  • Meadows School in Brandon

 

Enforcement 

Between December 20 and January 2, 60 warnings and 26 tickets were issued.

This includes:

  • four $1,296 tickets to individuals
  • 20 $298 tickets to individuals for failure to wear a mask in an indoor public place
  • one $5,000 ticket to a business
  • one $8,550 ticket to an individual under the Federal Quarantine Act
Related Stories