335 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death reported in Manitoba
CBC News | Posted: May 18, 2021 5:30 PM | Last Updated: May 18, 2021
Fast Pass COVID-19 test site to open in Brandon for staff at schools, child-care centres
Manitoba announced 335 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death on Tuesday.
The death is a man in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the B117 coronavirus variant of concern, the province said in a news release.
The total number of Manitobans who have died of COVID-19 is now 1,012.
The latest cases include 241 in the Winnipeg health region. The Southern Health region has the next highest amount with 29, followed by 26 in the Interlake–Eastern health region and 25 in the Northern Health Region.
Prairie Mountain Health region has the fewest new cases Tuesday, with 14.
Although the number of new cases is a drop from the 430 reported on Monday, other statistical markers have increased.
The current five-day test positivity rate is 13 per cent provincially (up from 12.7 on Monday) and 14.4 per cent in Winnipeg (up from 14.3).
There are also 278 people in hospital due to COVID-19, a jump from 264 one day earlier.
However, the number of people in intensive care has dipped to 70 from 73.
The provincial data dashboard also reports 833 more cases have been identified as stemming from coronavirus variants of concern, since its last update on Saturday.
The total number of cases involving variants is now 6,970, of which 2,530 are considered active.
There have been four additional deaths linked to variants since Saturday. The total number of deaths in Manitoba related to variant strains of concern is now 36.
Variants have become the dominant coronavirus strains in the province in the past month.
A government report covering the May 2-8 period found the more contagious variants accounted for 74 per cent of the new cases that week.
The province also announced Tuesday that an outbreak at Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern has now been declared over.
As well, a new Fast Pass COVID-19 test site opens in Brandon on Wednesday for eligible school staff and those working in licensed child-care centres.
The site, with a capacity for up to 40 people daily, will be located alongside the existing Brandon Keystone Centre vaccination supersite. Appointments are required and can be booked by calling (toll-free) 1-888-986-8152.
Clients will be asked if they meet eligibility criteria and to present proof of eligibility, such as a work identification card or employer letter, when they arrive for their appointment.
Corrections:- A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the Fast Pass site in Brandon was a vaccination site. It is, in fact, a COVID-19 test site. May 18, 2021 11:17 PM