1 death, 164 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Manitoba

Manitoba reported 164 new cases of COVID-19 and one deathtoday, the seventh day of triple-digitcase counts.

"Throughout Manitoba, in every region, we are seeing case counts and trends that look very much like our situation in October," said Dr. Joss Reimer, Manitoba's medical lead of the vaccine implementation task force at a news conference on Wednesday.

"Even with vaccines, we could see cases increase very quickly, leading to another lockdown."

Mostof the new COVID-19 cases announced Wednesday were in the Winnipeg health region, which posted 76 new infections, a provincial news release says.

There are also 30 new cases in the Northern Health Region, 24 in the Southern Health region, 19 in the Prairie Mountain Health region and 15 in the Interlake-Eastern health region.

There have now been 36,632 COVID-19 cases identified in Manitoba, of which 1,833 are considered active.

A manin his 50s from Northern Health Region has died, the news release says, bringing the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 to 961.

The number of more contagious coronavirus variants is also growing.

Thirtynew cases of variants of concern were reported onthe province's online data portal, bringing the total to 804. Of those, 232 are consideredactive.

Most of the active cases are the B117 variant first seen in the U.K., with two cases of the P1 variant, which has become associated with Brazil.

WATCH | Numbersconcerning, even with broader vaccine eligibility: Reimer

Dr. Joss Reimer says steep rise in Manitoba COVID-19 cases still possible

3 years ago

Duration 0:39

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba's vaccine task force, said Wednesday the province's COVID-19 numbers are concerning.

The province's five-day test positivity rate continues to rise.

On Wednesday, it went up to 6.3 per cent, from six per cent the day before. In Winnipeg, that rate jumped to 6.6 per cent from 6.3.

Meanwhile, there are137 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, the province said, up from 132 on Tuesday. Of those, 34 are in intensive care, up by one.

On Tuesday,2,785COVID-19 tests were done in Manitoba.

Exposures to B117

The public may have been exposed to a more contagious coronavirus variant at a restaurant in Thompson, Man., earlier this month,the province says.

The possible exposure to the B117 variant of concern took place at McDonald's at 217 Mystery Lake Rd.on April 8 from 4 p.m. to midnight,April 10 and 11 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.and April 13 and 14 from 2 p.m.to 10 p.m.

Anybody experiencing symptomsafter visiting the restaurantshould isolate immediately and go for testing, the province says.

In Winnipeg,an outbreak has been declared at St. Maurice Daycare.

The province announced early Wednesday that people working infront-line jobs in high-risk communities will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine starting Friday, as will any adult living in those hot spots.

Eligible workers in the high-risk areaswill include those employed at grocery stores, gas stations, schools, convenience stores and food processing plants.

The vaccine task forceplans to release information about the first areas that will getpriority access on Friday.

WATCH |Reimer explainshow vaccine task force will decide which regions are prioritized:

Dr. Joss Reimer on how vaccine task force is selecting top priority Manitoba hot spots

3 years ago

Duration 1:19

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba's vaccine task force, said Wednesday the task force will look at second- and third-wave epidemiology when determining which regions will get priority access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Thousands of first responders became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday.

That includes an estimated2,400 front-line police officersand 4,700 firefighters, including volunteer firefighters.

Reimer cautioned Manitobans not to get complacent with public health orders because of shifting vaccine eligibility.

"Case numbers are rising quickly, particularly among younger people. Our shift to an 18-plus approach in some communities will help, but even that is limited by the amount of vaccine we will have in the weeks ahead," she said.

Manitoba also announced Wednesday that general eligibility to be immunized at a supersite or temporary clinichas been lowered to 50 or older and First Nations people 30 or older.

So far, 364,389 doses of coronavirusvaccines have been given. Just over 27 per cent of eligible adults have received at least one dose.

This update comes afterthe province reported211 new cases of COVID-19 and one deathon Tuesday, as well as63 new cases of more contagious variants.

It's the highestsingle-day new case count since Jan. 24,near the end of Manitoba's second wave of COVID-19.

Sixty-threenew cases of highly infectious variants of concern were also reported Tuesday, includinga second case of the P1 variant that's become associated with Brazil.

The first P1 case was identified last Thursday and is related to travel. The second case was expected because the person who travelled had one household contact, Dr. Jazz Atwal,Manitoba's acting deputy chief public health officer, saidlast week.

WATCH | Full news conference on COVID-19 | April 21, 2021:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: April 21

3 years ago

Duration 51:53

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Wednesday, April 21, 2021.