Streak over: Manitoba reports five new cases of COVID-19

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This article was published 13/07/2020 (1375 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After nearly two weeks without a new case, Manitoba public health officials announced five new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active cases to five.

Provincial officials said the cases include:

 

• a man and woman in their 20s from the Winnipeg health region, 
• a man in his 40s from the Interlake-Eastern health region, 
• a woman in her 30s from the Southern health region and 
• a young woman between the ages of 10 and 19 from the Southern health region.

 

One of the individuals had recently flown between Winnipeg and Calgary, according to health officials. The individual was a passenger on WestJet flight 261 from Winnipeg to Calgary on June 27 and WestJet flight 526 from Calgary to Winnipeg on July 2.

Affected rows for flight 261 are listed as rows 7 to 22, while affected rows for flight 526 are listed as rows 4 to 10 on the province’s COVID-19 flights website.

The province recommends people on those flights self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and self-isolate should symptoms develop. The province also recommends using the online screening tool or calling Health Links for information on testing.

Public health officials assessed the risk level as low but are continuing to investigate and will provide additional information as needed regarding public health risks.

The five cases come at the end of a streak that saw no new cases through the month of July. The last time a patient was in hospital as a result of COVID-19 was May 22, and province’s last COVID-19 related death occurred on May 5.

Despite the dwindling number of cases, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin urged Manitobans on Monday to remain vigilant and not “let our guards down” as a result of the streak. While low numbers are encouraging, Roussin noted the province has received reports of oversized crowds at beaches and restaurants in recent weeks.

The total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba is now at 330. No individuals are in hospital, public health officials report, and 318 people have recovered from the virus. The number of deaths remain at seven.

A total of 304 tests were completed on Monday, bringing the total number of tests performed since February to 71, 803.

 

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca