Test-positivity rate pushes past 7 per cent provincewide

First Nation implements stay-at-home order to battle rising infections

Posted: 2:01 PM CDT Sunday, Apr. 25, 2021

Less than a week after provincial health restrictions were tweaked in response to the rising third wave and concerns over emerging variants of COVID-19, Manitoba's test-positivity rate continues to move in the wrong direction.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2021 (1297 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Less than a week after provincial health restrictions were tweaked in response to the rising third wave and concerns over emerging variants of COVID-19, Manitoba’s test-positivity rate continues to move in the wrong direction.

No new deaths related to the virus were announced on Sunday, but another 259 cases were identified.

Last Monday, Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, called the public health order adjustments the “last shot” at avoiding a lockdown. That day, a test-positivity rate of 5.7 per cent was reported provincewide.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
local - Pallister - COVID
Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, announce small, precautionary changes to health restrictions at press conference at the Legislative Building on Monday.
April 19, 2021 — RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS local - Pallister - COVID Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, announce small, precautionary changes to health restrictions at press conference at the Legislative Building on Monday. April 19, 2021

On Sunday, public health officials announced the rate has now risen to 7.1 across the province and 7.6 per cent in Winnipeg — the highest percentage it’s been since early February.

Like the test-positivity rate, case counts are also on the rise.

There are currently 2,024 active cases in the province. There have been 1,460 new cases reported in the last seven days.

Of the new cases reported Sunday, 188 were found in the Winnipeg health region, followed by 25 cases in both the Northern and Prairie Mountain health regions, 15 cases in Southern Health and six cases in Interlake-Eastern. About two-thirds of all new cases this week have been found in Winnipeg, which has averaged 130 cases per day over the last seven days.

There are currently 139 people in hospital for treatment related to COVID-19, including 37 patients in intensive care.

A stay-at-home order has been issued for residents of Chemawawin Cree Nation, which the province said faces a trend of concerning virus case numbers in the community.

Public gatherings are not permitted and residents may only leave their homes to seek testing or medical care, or to send one person from a household for essential supplies. Essential service workers may leave their residences for work. Non-medical masks must be worn outside the home.

The province also advised on Sunday of a possible public exposure connected to air travel on April 16 related to a variant of concern: WestJet Flight WS526: departed Calgary at 9:50 p.m., arrived in Winnipeg at 1 a.m., affected rows one to six.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca