Today's COVID-19 update is sharing that while other areas across the province are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases, Winnipeg has the largest number of new cases.

Public health officials advise the current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 1.4 per cent and 21 new cases of the virus have been identified as of 9:30 a.m. today, bringing the number of cases in Manitoba to 1,449.
 
The data shows:
•    one case in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
•    three cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
•    17 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The province says that most new cases are from close contacts and community transmission. 
 
Following detailed public health investigations, one case announced on Sunday has been reassigned to the Winnipeg health region from the Northern health region. This change is reflected in the data posted online.
 
The data also shows:
•    257 active cases and 1,176 individuals have recovered from COVID-19;
•    there are 12 people in hospital and three people in intensive care; and
•    the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 16.
 
Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.

"Stigma does not help," Dr. Brent Roussin says. "Be kind."
 
Preliminary laboratory testing numbers show 1,514 were complete Friday, 1,433 were completed Saturday and 1,049 tests were completed on Sunday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 155,803.
 
Public health officials are advising of a possible exposure at Beaverlodge School at 6691 Rannock Ave. in Winnipeg on Thursday, Sept. 10 (morning and afternoon). The individual was asymptomatic and followed all public health measures that were put in place at the school. The public health investigation indicates the infection was not acquired at school. The school community and the cohort have been notified. Additional cleaning of high-touch areas is being undertaken out of an abundance of caution.

Any close contacts connected to the case have been identified, contacted and advised to self-isolate. Others who were at the site do not need to self-isolate, but should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. The site is not being elevated on the Pandemic Response System, given the limited number of contacts identified.
 
Public health officials strongly encourage all Manitobans to focus on the fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This means staying home if you are sick, washing/sanitizing your hands, covering your cough and physically distancing when you are with people outside your household. If you cannot physically distance, wear a mask.