Manitoba reports 55 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and one death.

Of the new cases, about half&nbsp;— 27 — are in the Winnipeg health region. There are also 13 cases in the Northern Health region, 10 in the Southern Health region, three in the Prairie Mountain Health region and two in the Interlake-Eastern health region.

A man in his 60s from the Winnipeg area has died, bringing the total number of people who have died from COVID-19 to 934.

Manitoba's test positivity rate is 3.9&nbsp;per cent, down from 4.2. Winnipeg's rate dipped to 3.1 per cent, down from 3.3 the day before.

The total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is down slightly to 140 on Sunday, from&nbsp;143 the day before.&nbsp;That includes 27 patients in intensive care units,&nbsp;down from 28 on Saturday.

With risk of more infectious coronavirus variants growing, experts call for more caution outdoors

As new, more infectious coronavirus variants spread in provinces across Canada, experts say people need to be taking precautions to reduce transmission — even outside.

A pair in masks walks in downtown Ottawa March 23, 2021.

mask ottawa covid coronavirus

A pair in masks walks in downtown Ottawa. Dr. Peter Jüni recommends wearing a mask if people need to get close together, even outside for a short period of time.

Possible exposures to coronavirus variants on Winnipeg buses, to COVID-19 in city cab

This update comes after another 46 cases of the more contagious coronavirus variant of concern first detected in the U.K. were identified in Manitoba, public health officials announced on Friday.

COVID-19 testing

The seven-day average daily case count has risen gradually since the start of the month. On March 1, the average was around 61 cases per day. Now, it's around 90, an increase of almost 50 per cent over that time.

The province now has 1,179 active cases of COVID-19, and 31,809 people have recovered from the illness.

Labs completed 1,923 COVID-19 tests on Saturday.&nbsp;

No updates are available on the number of cases involving variants on concerns&nbsp;on weekends, a provincial spokesperson said.

This update comes after the province reported 

 as well as a number of exposures on Winnipeg Transit buses to more contagious coronavirus variants earlier this month.

There also may&nbsp;have been an exposure to COVID-19 earlier this month in a Duffy's taxicab, the province says.

Why Canada's decision to delay 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccines may not work for everyone

New research suggests delaying second doses of COVID-19 vaccines by up to four months may not be the best approach for some older Canadians as some experts question whether Canada’s vaccination advisers, who recommended the delay, can keep up with rapidly evolving science in the pandemic.

People are pictured lined up to receive their COVID-19 vaccination at an immunization clinic in the Fraser Health region of Surrey, B.C., on March 24, 2021.

SURREY VACCINATION

People wait in line to receive their COVID-19 vaccination at a clinic in the Fraser Health region of Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday. New early data suggests that Canada’s recommendation to delay the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines for up to four months may not be effective in some older, more vulnerable people.

Manitoba's test positivity rate is 3.9 per cent, down from 4.2, and Winnipeg's rate dipped to 3.1 per cent, down from 3.3 the day before.

1 new death, 55 more COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Sunday

More Stories Like This