Public health officials advise 12 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including: 
• a female in her 30s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region;
• a female in her 80s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region;
• a male in his 80s from the Northern health region;
• a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region; 
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region; 
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region; 
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region; 
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region; and 
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.6 per cent provincially and 10.6 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 244 new cases of the virus have been identified, which brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 23,624.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 44 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
• 41 cases in the Northern health region;
• three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 42 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud  region; and
• 114 cases in the Winnipeg health region. 

The data also shows:
• 4,489 active cases and 18,518 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19; 
• there are 254 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 92 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 346 hospitalizations;
• there are 35 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as six people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 41 ICU patients; and
• the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 617.

Laboratory testing numbers show 2,163 tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 411,618. Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

The Winkler drive-thru testing site at 485 George Ave. will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, due to staffing and reopen Friday, Dec. 25, with regular hours of operation.

An outbreak has been declared at the E5 medicine unit at St. Boniface Hospital, Calvary Place personal care home and Deer Lodge Centre, all in Winnipeg. The sites have been moved to Critical (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.

In addition, outbreaks have been declared over at Bridgepark Manor, an assisted living facility in Steinbach, Buhler Active Living Centre in Winkler, and Grace Hospital units 2 South and 3 North in Winnipeg.