There were 198 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 more deaths due to the virus announced on Thursday.
Another death has been reported at the McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre — a man in his 80s. It’s the sixth death reported at this facility during this outbreak.
Province Cautiously Changes Health Orders
Changes to the public health orders have been announced and will take effect Saturday, Jan. 23 for all regions in Manitoba, except for the north.
Roussin explains that current high COVID case numbers and test positivity rates in northern Manitoba means the province “is not yet in a position to ease restrictions in this region”.
The new health orders will last for three weeks — expiring Feb. 12 — and the entire province will remain in code red.
All previous health orders will remain in effect, with the following changes announced today:
Household Limits
Under the new rules, two people may be designated to visit a household. Outdoor visits of up to five people (plus members of a household) on private property like a backyard, will also be permitted under the new orders.
Funerals may have up to 10 people in attendance, in addition to the officiant.
Retail Stores
The “essential items” list has been scrapped, and the new orders allow all stores to open to sell their products — as long as physical distancing is maintained with occupancy limits of 25%, or 250 people, whichever is lower.
Health & Personal Services
The province says orders are being expanded to allow for the operation of basic services that promote physical and mental health for Manitobans. That means non-regulated health services, such as pedorthists and reflexologists, can reopen with adequate physical distancing and requirements to collect information for contact tracing purposes.
Barber Shops & Hair Stylists
When the new orders take effect on Saturday barbershops and hairstylists may reopen at 25% capacity with adequate physical distancing and requirements to collect information for contact tracing purposes.
Some notable things left off the list? In-restaurant dining, gyms, fitness centres and nail salons are still mandated to remain closed under the orders.
Today’s COVID Numbers In Manitoba
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 9.2% provincially and 6.6% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 28,089.
The provincial data shows 3,205 active cases and 24,091 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 125 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 143 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (268 hospitalizations total).
There are 23 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 11 people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (34 ICU patients total).
The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 793.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• nine cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 105 cases in the Northern health region
• 17 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 13 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 54 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (5), Riding Mountain (2), Porcupine Mountain (54), Duck Mountain (6), Asessippi (7), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (1), and Agassiz Mountain (36). Brandon has 54 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 64 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 59.
Public health officials advise five additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including:
• a female in her 60s from the Northern health region
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Poseidon Care Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at the McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre
• a male in his 60s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Salem Home
