News briefs for October 24, 2020

Public health officials Saturday reported two deaths owing to COVID-19, bringing Manitoba’s total to 50.

Both deaths involve a female in their 70s, from Winnipeg, with one linked to an outbreak at Misericordia Place. It’s the third death to be announced in the last two days.

Hospitalizations have climbed to 65, with a Manitoba-high of 10 people in intensive care.

A total of 153 new cases were identified as of 9:30 Saturday morning. A total of eight cases were in the Prairie Mountain; 15 cases each in both Interlake-Eastern and Northern regions; 24 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region and 91 in Winnipeg.

Manitoba is now at 1,922 active cases, with 2,116 individuals having recovered from COVID-19.

Laboratory system data, including daily testing numbers, total testing numbers and the test positivity rate, weren’t made unavailable Saturday due to scheduled systems upgrades. Data is expected to be available Sunday.

Winnipeg police are reaching out to the public for help in gathering information about an assault early Saturday morning.

At 7:24 a.m., police found three injured adult males in a hotel suite in the 600 block of Main Street. All three were taken to hospital and are currently in stable condition.  

No other information was provided.

This investigation is continuing by members of the Major Crimes Unit. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

St. Boniface Hospital is investigating a third COVID-19 outbreak, according to a statement from the hospital made Saturday, after outbreaks in two medical units were declared last week. 

As of last week, 11 patients and five staff had been infected. Cases have now been tied to the E5, E6 and B5 units.

New patients will not be admitted into these three units and visitation into the hospital is restricted. The hospital remains open.