Province reports 158 new COVID cases, five additional deaths

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/01/2021 (2068 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After revealing the lowest daily COVID-19 tally in months on Tuesday, the province unveiled another 158 cases Wednesday, and five new deaths.

This recent list of fatalities includes a man in his 80s from Prairie Mountain Health, with the death being linked to the ongoing outbreak at the McCreary-Alonsa Health Centre.

This marks the third day in a row that a new death has been connected to the McCreary facility, located roughly 140 kilometres north of Brandon in the Agassiz Mountain district.

As such, the Prairie Mountain Health region’s COVID-death rate now sits at 42, with the lion’s share of these deaths taking place from mid-November onward.

Overall, the Prairie Mountain Health region registered 12 new COVID cases on Wednesday, with the remaining cases being spread out between the Winnipeg health region (61), Northern health region (70), Interlake-Eastern health region (seven) and Southern health region (eight).

According to Wednesday’s news release from the province, there are now 289 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Manitoba, including 36 in intensive care.

However, there was some good news to report on Wednesday, since the province’s five-day positivity rate has dropped from 10.1 per cent to 9.6 per cent.

“The actions taken by Manitobans (are) making a difference. However, it is too early to start a victory lap,” Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitoba’s acting deputy chief public health officer, said during Wednesday’s news conference.

“If we let up now, all the hard work for the past several weeks could be for nothing.”

Additionally, Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of immunization, revealed that 12,409 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Manitoba to date, including 10,749 first doses and 1,660 secondary doses.

In terms of a regional breakdown, 75 per cent of these vaccines have been given out in the Winnipeg health region, whereas only four per cent of that total number of vaccines have been administered to residents of Prairie Mountain Health.

However, Reimer is certain that this ratio will change starting next week, as Brandon’s immunization supersite is set to open at the Keystone Centre Monday.

Not only are approximately 3,500 doses being shipped to Brandon for this grand opening, but a spokesperson from the province told the Sun on Tuesday that there have been 67 new hires in order to staff the site.

Additionally, Reimer said these health care professionals already have a blueprint to follow in getting the Keystone Centre up and running, based on the immunization super site in Winnipeg having been operational since Jan. 4.

“Overall, I’ve actually gotten really wonderful feedback on what’s happened at the RBC Convention Centre,” she said.

“For the most part, it’s been an extremely smooth, very efficient process. I’m getting texts and emails and phone calls from colleagues who have been through there and are expressing how convenient it was for them, which is something unexpected when you’re talking about a clinic setting.”

Additionally, Reimer said on Wednesday that the province’s eligibility criteria for immunization has been expanded even further to include staff employed in congregate group care settings who provide direct care to individuals in:

· the Community Living disABILITY Services

· Child and Family Services,

· Homeless shelters

· Family violence shelters

For more information on Manitoba’s ongoing immunization campaign, visit manitoba.ca/vaccine

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @KyleDarbyson