Two additional deaths in people with COVID-19 and 50 new cases were reported in Manitoba on Sunday, edging the province closer to another grim milestone.
A man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s were reported to have passed away, both from Winnipeg but neither linked to outbreaks. That brings the total number of deaths of Manitobans with COVID-19 to 895.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.7% provincially and 2.7% in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. Sunday, 50 new cases of the virus have been identified, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 31,859.
Case investigations continue and if a public health risk is identified, the public will be notified.
Of the new cases, 21 each were from Winnipeg and the Northern region, with five from Southern Health, two from Interlake-Eastern and one from the Prairie Mountain Health region.
There are currently 1,194 active cases in the province including 393 from Winnipeg and 599 from Northern Manitoba. A total of 192 people remain in hospital including 72 with active COVID-19 as well as 26 intensive care unit patients with either active COVID-19 or are no longer infectious but still require critical care. The total number of confirmed B.1.1.7 variant of concern cases remains at five.
Laboratory testing numbers show 1,866 tests were completed Saturday, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February 2020 to 525,373.
Eligibility expanded
Last week, it was announced that members of the general population will be eligible to be immunized based on age. Eligibility was expanded Friday to include Manitobans 92 years and older and First Nation people aged 72 and older.
Previously, it had been 95 for the general population and 75 for First Nation people.
The new super site in the Southern Health health region will be located at the Access Event Centre in Morden. It is scheduled to open the week of March 12, subject to vaccine availability.
Appointments are currently available to be booked in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.
Manitobans should check www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html to determine if they are eligible to make an appointment, as eligibility criteria expands regularly. If eligible, call (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC). Everyone who calls is screened to ensure they meet current eligibility criteria before booking an appointment.
In anticipation of greater vaccine supply beginning in April, Manitoba has posted a request for service agreements for organizations to provide Focused Immunization Teams (FITs) for vaccine administration across the province. These additional FITs will supplement existing capacity.
On Friday, the federal government authorized the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Manitoba will provide further information and updates on the use of this vaccine in its immunization plan in the coming days, as more details are available.
Vaccine Administration
Last week, an estimated 1,500 residents in 44 personal care homes were scheduled to receive their second doses of vaccine. By the end of the week, all eligible residents will have received their second doses, for the fullest protection possible from COVID-19 with more than 7,300 residents having received their second-dose to date. Moving forward, FITs will continue to conduct regular sweeps of these facilities to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine remains available to new residents.
FITs are also currently providing first-dose immunizations to residents of congregate living facilities. This week, they will visit about 120 locations located throughout the province with an estimated 4,800 residents.
As of Thursday, 71,469 doses of vaccine have been administered including 42,912 first doses and 28,557 second doses. Approximately 500 medical clinics and pharmacies have applied to be part of the immunization campaign.
Twitter: @SunGlenDawkins
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