MB Government: COVID-19 Bulletin #565

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/

Public health highlights the following COVID-19 data trends for the week ending Feb. 3. People who are not fully vaccinated are four times as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, seven times as likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit and nine times as likely to die with COVID-19. Case and risk by vaccination status data is updated each Wednesday here: https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/apps/manitoba-covid-19-cases-and-risk-by-vaccination-status/explore.

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

• Manitobans are reminded that COVID-19 treatments options are available for eligible patients. Early testing is key as treatment must begin within five to seven days of symptoms developing. Manitobans are encouraged to seek testing as soon as symptoms develop and to contact their health care provider, doctor or Health Links-Info Santé if they meet the minimum eligibility criteria that include but are not limited to 18 years or older, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, have a risk factor (smoking, diabetes) or chronic condition, or are fully vaccinated Manitobans with a risk factor or chronic condition may also be eligible for treatment. For full criteria, visit: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/treatment/index.html.

• 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 14 new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

• a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Tuesday);
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Concordia Hospital; unit N3 (reported Tuesday);
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to an outbreak at Grace Hospital unit 3 South (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Golden Door Geriatric Centre (reported Wednesday);
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and Holy Family Home (reported Wednesday);
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Meadowood Manor personal care home (reported Wednesday);
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday); and
• a female in her 80s from the Southern Health Santé-Sud (reported Wednesday).

One death listed Monday, a male in his 60s from Winnipeg regional health (reported Sunday), was linked to an outbreak at St.Amant in error. The death should have been linked to an outbreak at Health Sciences Centre, unit GA5.

Outbreaks

Outbreaks have been declared at:

• Deloraine Health Centre, Deloraine.

Outbreaks have been declared over at:

• Concordia Place, Winnipeg;
• Lions Manor personal care home, Winnipeg;
• Luther Home personal care home, Winnipeg;
• St. Norbert personal care home, Winnipeg;
• Misericordia Place, Winnipeg;
• Brandon Regional Health Centre, surgery unit, Brandon; and
• Crocus Court personal care home, Roblin.

Enforcement

The Manitoba government is also providing an update on ongoing enforcement efforts to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19. A total of 1,827 inspections occurred, which resulted in 12 warnings and 22 tickets issued for the week of Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 including:

• three $1,296 tickets to individuals;
• 17 $298 tickets to individuals for failure to wear a mask in an indoor public place; and
• two $5,000 tickets to businesses.

Manitobans are urged to continue reporting compliance and enforcement issues by visiting www.manitoba.ca/COVID19 and completing the reporting form, or by calling 204-945-3744 or (toll-free) 1-866-626-4862 and pressing option three on the call menu. Updated enforcement statistics are posted online weekly at: https://manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/departments/index.html#cdr.

Tickets issued by health region include:

• zero tickets in Interlake-Eastern (zero per cent);
• one ticket in Northern (five per cent);
• five tickets in Prairie Mountain Health (23 per cent);
• eight tickets in Southern Health-Santé Sud (36 per cent); and
• eight tickets in Winnipeg (36 per cent).

Vaccine

Manitoba is adopting new guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) for vaccinating youth ages 12 to 17 against COVID-19 and its variants.

Effective today, youth ages 12 to 17 should receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if they are, or if they might be, at a high risk of severe outcomes due to medical and/or social risk factors. The third dose will be offered at least six months after the second dose.

Several eligibility factors define who among this age group can get this booster:

• underlying medical conditions, which put them at increased risk;
• belonging to racialized or marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected by COVID-19;
• living in shelters, group homes and correctional facilities; and
• immunocompromised and have received three doses (so their next dose would be a fourth dose).

Neither the province nor NACI is recommending boosters for the general population of youth ages 12 to 17. Only those who meet the criteria outlined above are eligible.

Public health will continue to use Pfizer to minimize the small risk associated with myocarditis and/or pericarditis. This inflammation of heart tissues is extremely rare and mild when it occurs after vaccination, and it almost always fully resolves without severe reaction. Preliminary safety data from the real-world use of boosters in teens showed no additional safety concerns.

If your child does not fit into the eligibility categories, but you still feel they should be immunized, discuss your individual circumstances with your family doctor or pediatrician.

Delivering the second round of vaccines to children ages five 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 72,194 first doses have been given to children ages five to 11, or 57.7 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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