Public health officials advise two new deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today:
- a male in his teens from the Winnipeg health region; and
- a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 11.5 per cent provincially and 12.3 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 250 new cases of the virus have been identified. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 53,403.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
- 32 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
- 18 cases in the Northern health region.
- 16 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 48 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 136 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The data also shows:
- 3,786 active cases and 48,536 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
- 323 Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 in Manitoba and neighbouring provinces including:
- 214 people in hospital in Manitoba with active COVID-19 as well as 79 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious, amounting to a total of 293 hospitalizations;
- a total of 97 Manitoba patients receiving intensive care for COVID-19 including:
o 49 people in intensive care units in Manitoba with active COVID-19 as well as 18 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, amounting to a total of 67 ICU patients in Manitoba; and
o 30 Manitoba patients in intensive care units outside the province, with 27 in Ontario, one in Saskatchewan and two in Alberta;
- 21 patients previously receiving care in an out of province ICU have now been returned to Manitoba hospitals including four who were repatriated yesterday from Ontario;
- 2,713 laboratory tests were completed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 792,471; and
- the total number of deaths in people with COVID-19 is 1,081.

Public health officials are reminding Manitobans that in most cases, they should only seek testing at a provincial test site if they are symptomatic or have been advised by public health that they are a close contact. This will help ensure those who need to be tested can continue to access testing as easily as possible. Manitobans have several options available to access testing, including drive-thru and walk-in sites, or by booking an appointment by calling 1-855-268-4318 or online at select sites at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/testing/locations.html#appointment.

Additional data on variants of concern is updated from Tuesday to Saturday at https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/. Data related to COVID-19, outbreaks and some downloadable and historic data can also be found at this site.

Possible exposure locations are listed online by region at the province’s #RestartMB Pandemic Response System webpage. For up-to-date information on possible public exposures to COVID-19 in regions, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/flights.html#event and click on your region.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, including the online screening tool, testing criteria and locations, self-isolation requirements, public health fundamentals and the provincial response level on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.

 

VACCINES

Eligibility for second doses has been expanded to include individuals who received their first dose on or before May 4. Manitobans are strongly reminded that only those eligible to book appointments based on the date of their first dose or other provincial criteria should book second-dose appointments at this time.

Additionally, all Indigenous people in Manitoba and individuals with specific health conditions are also eligible to book their second dose, as long as they meet the minimum time interval between doses. For more information, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html#second-dose.

All people aged 12 and up are eligible to book their first-dose appointments.

Individuals can book online at https://protectmb.ca or by calling (toll-free) 1-844-MAN-VACC (1-844-626-8222). People will need to know the date they received their first dose and the type of vaccine received. This information can continue to be accessed at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/test-results/ or by calling a local public health office. A directory can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/offices.html. Note that vaccine appointments cannot be booked through public health offices.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated can now request a digital or physical immunization card. To be eligible to request your immunization card, you must:
• have a Manitoba health card,
• have received both doses of a vaccine, and
• wait 14 days after getting your last dose of vaccine.

For more information, visit https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/immunization-record.html#immunization-cards.

It is recommended that people receive the same mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) for their first and second doses where possible. However, these vaccines are considered equivalent, and both are safe and effective.

When the same vaccine is not readily available, you can book an appointment for either Pfizer or Moderna as the second dose. Individuals can also choose to book the earliest vaccine available to them for their second dose. You do not have to wait to receive the same brand of vaccine as your first dose.

Young people aged 12 to 17 must continue to receive Pfizer for both doses, as this is currently the only vaccine approved for use in this age group.

Due to ongoing vaccine supply challenges, there may be situations where the vaccine initially offered at the clinic will be changed to the vaccine that is currently available.