MB Government: COVID-19 Bulletin #558

Press Release

January 24, 2022

Information about COVID-19 in Manitoba is updated weekdays at 12:30 p.m. on these DataMB dashboards:

  • Case data: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/apps/manitoba-covid-19/
  • COVID-19 vaccination coverage: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/apps/manitoba-covid-19-vaccinations-dashboard-1/

Based on provincial data, public health officials are highlighting the following trends for the week ending Jan. 20. Over the past week, Manitoba saw:

  • 367 new hospitalizations, a .3 per cent decrease from the previous week;
  • 40 new ICU cases, an 8.1 per cent increase from the previous week; and
  • 5,597 cases, a 24.2 per cent decrease from the previous week.

Manitoba continues to report on the recorded number of COVID-19 cases.  However, it is important to note this data is limited and should be used with caution. It includes cases confirmed by a PCR test as well as rapid tests given by health care professionals. Positive test results from rapid antigen tests, which people generally do at home, are not collected or reported. As a result, these numbers are an under-reporting of COVID-19 in the community.

Key Updates

  • Oral antiviral medications are now available in Manitoba for the treatment of COVID-19. Eligibility criteria for available treatment options for COVID-19 (both Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies) have expanded to include some fully vaccinated individuals (two doses of an approved two dose vaccine or one dose of a single dose vaccine), with the second dose (or single dose for one dose vaccine) administered more than four months ago. These individuals must also meet other criteria set out related to age and co-morbidity. For more information, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/treatment/index.html, call Health Links-Info Sante at 204-788-8200 or 1-800-315-9257, or contact your family doctor.
  • Only symptomatic individuals or those advised by public health should visit a COVID-19 provincial testing site. Rapid antigen tests will continue to be used for the majority of people visiting a provincial testing site. Those who are at higher risk of severe illness as well as some groups who have tested positive on a rapid antigen test will still be eligible for PCR testing. Detailed information on updated COVID-19 testing eligibility can be found at: https://gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/index.html.

Deaths

Public health officials advise 23 new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

  • a female in her 70s from Prairie Mountain Health (reported Saturday);
  • a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Saturday);
  • a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Saturday);
  • a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Saturday);
  • a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Saturday);
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Oakview Place personal care home (reported Saturday);
  • a male in his 90s from Prairie Mountain Health and linked to the outbreak at Hillcrest Place (reported Saturday);
  • a female in her 80s from Prairie Mountain Health and linked to the outbreak at Hillcrest Place (reported Saturday);
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Deer Lodge Centre Tower 7 (reported Saturday);
  • a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Sunday);
  • a male in his 70s from Prairie Mountain Health (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at West Park Manor personal care home (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Misericordia Health Centre (reported Sunday);
  • a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to an outbreak at Health Sciences Centre, GA3 surgery (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 90s from Prairie Mountain Health and linked to an outbreak at Rideau Park personal care home (reported Sunday);
  • a male in his 50s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud (reported Sunday);
  • a male in his 50s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud (reported Sunday);
  • a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Monday);
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Monday); and
  • a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Monday).

Outbreaks

Outbreaks have been declared at:

  • Golden Door Geriatric Centre, Winnipeg;
  • Meadowood Manor, Winnipeg;
  • Bethesda Regional Health Centre, medical ward, Steinbach;
  • Westman Nursing Home, Virden; and
  • Assiniboine Centre, Brandon Regional Health Centre, Brandon.

Outbreak declared over at:

  • St. Claude personal care home, St. Claude; and
  • Northern Spirit Manor, Thompson.

Vaccine

The RBC provincial vaccine clinic is open for walk-in appointments.

Manitobans who are eligible for a third dose, or booster, are urged to get one. The booster dose is readily available to everyone over age 18 in Manitoba. It is most important that those who are 50 and over get immunized with a third dose right away, because this age group is experiencing – and will continue to experience – more severe outcomes, including hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths.

Manitobans who live in First Nations communities, have diabetes, or are immunocompromised are urged to get a third dose. A complete listing of the medical conditions that would classify a person as immunocompromised can be found at https://protectmb.ca.

Delivering the second round of vaccines to children ages 5 to 11 is continuing in many locations, including schools. It is recommended by Health Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and public health that the second dose be administered eight weeks following the first dose.

As of today, a total of 68,348 first doses have been given to children ages five to 11, or 54.7 per cent of that age group.

Manitobans are encouraged to get their second and third doses as quickly as possible. While COVID-19 vaccine appointments continue to be available at regional or provincial vaccine clinics, for many people the fastest way to be immunized is at a nearby medical clinic, pharmacy or urban Indigenous clinic. Check the online vaccine finder or a medical clinic or pharmacy near you that provides the COVID-19 vaccine to find the next available opportunity to be immunized. The timeline between second and third doses and eligibility criteria information can be found at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html.

Eligible individuals can book their appointments online, by calling (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) or by contacting their local pharmacy or medical clinic directly. Visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/finder.html for some of the available options.

More Resources

  • Vaccine campaign in Manitoba: www.manitoba.ca/vaccine and https://protectmb.ca.
  • Data related to COVID-19, variants of concern, outbreaks and some downloadable and historic data: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/.
  • Up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba: www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.

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For more information:

  • Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
  • Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
  • Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.

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