Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report

COVID-19


This report provides a current epidemiological update on the intensity and severity of COVID-19 in Manitoba. Surveillance and administrative data include laboratory, public health case and contact tracing investigations, hospitalization and mortality data. Data are presented at the provincial and regional level; and include a focussed review on the disproportional impact of COVID-19 on various populations in the province. In this weekly report, we provide regular updates about the current activity of COVID-19 in Manitoba to present a detailed overview about COVID-19 cases and contacts.

Data are reported with a one-week delay for increased data accuracy, completeness and reliability. More analyses continue to be conducted and will be added to this report as available. It is published online at approximately 10:00am every Monday.

For reporting on seasonal influenza in 2021-2022 season, please visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/surveillance/influenza/index.html

Week 41 (October 10 – October 16)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on October 22, 2021
Next reporting date: November 1, 2021

COVID-19: Decreased Activity

In Week 41, there were 590 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, a decrease from 724 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests decreased to on average 2,617 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 3,099 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 3.4%, a decrease from 3.5% in the previous week.

In the 590 cases reported this week, 33% were reported from the Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority and 24% were reported from the Northern Health Region. The remaining cases were reported from Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (21%), Prairie Mountain Health Authority (15%), and Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (7%).

This week, 456 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, a decrease from 557 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 77% of new cases reported this week.

In all Manitoba residents aged 12 years and older, 87.4% of residents have been partially vaccinated and 82.7% have been fully vaccinated. This week, the majority of new cases, severe cases among them and VOC cases were unvaccinated.

Cases

About cases

  • New cases: 590
  • Total cases: 62,183
  • Total VOC cases: 20,140
  • Recovered cases: 60,281
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Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 2,617
  • Weekly positivity rate: 3.4%

Total

  • Tested people: 589,208
  • Population tested: 43.2%
  • Specimens tested: 1,052,098
  • Positivity rate: 6.4%
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Severity

About severity

Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19:

  • Hospitalizations: 4,362
    • ICU admissions3: 943
  • Deaths: 1,235
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Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks: 249

  • Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 121
  • Outbreaks in schools: 11
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Exposure

About exposure

Source of infection in cases (% of total)

  • Travel: 1.5%
  • Close contact to cases: 55.5%
  • Unknown: 25.5%
  • Pending: 17.5%

Top five outbreak/cluster/special investigation settings4

  • Workplace: 34.1%
  • Industrial setting: 16.2%
  • School: 10.4%
  • Daycare: 9.8%
  • Acute care setting: 6.9%
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Transmission and Acquisition

About transmission and acquisition

Top five transmission settings in all cases5

  • Household: 65.3%
  • Social gathering: 14.3%
  • Workplace: 9.8%
  • Transportation: 4.7%
  • School: 2.1%

Top five acquisition settings in cases with unknown source of infection6

  • Household: 48.6%
  • Workplace: 24.7%
  • Social gathering: 15.0%
  • Retail: 9.1%
  • Food services establishments: 5.6%
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Symptoms

About symptoms

Symptomatic cases: 73.7%

Top symptoms (% of reports)

  • Cough: 46.6%
  • Headache: 38.1%
  • Fever: 32.1%
  • Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.2%
  • Sore Throat: 27.6%
More Analyses

Risk Factors

About risk factors

  • Pregnant cases: 793
  • Health care workers7: 2,758
  • Deceased health care workers: 4
  • Recovered health care workers: 2,743
More Analyses

Important Notes

  1. Data about COVID-19 cases and contacts are extracted from PHIMS.
  2. Numbers are subject to change. Missed events in the current report due to reporting delays will be included in later reports when data become available.
  3. ICU admissions were also included in hospitalizations.
  4. The top five settings where cases are found to be linked with an outbreak or cluster or special investigation.
  5. Transmission settings include those settings exposed during a case’s communicability period, i.e., 48 hours prior to the development of overt symptoms in the case until the case is classified as no longer infectious. Percentages are calculated using total cases counts as a denominator. Categories are NOT mutually exclusive.
  6. Acquisition settings include those settings exposed during a case’s incubation period, i.e., 14 days before symptom onset date. Percentages are calculated using community-transmitted case counts as a denominator for acquisition settings. Categories are NOT mutually exclusive.
  7. Health care workers include personnels in hospitals, long-term care settings, community health clinics and services (including agency staff), and diagnostic/laboratory services.

Cases

Figure 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Note. Deaths due to COVID-19 were aligned by week of death date.
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Figure 2. COVID-19 Cases of Variants of Concern (VOC) by Type and Percentage of VOC Cases in All Cases by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 16, 2021

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Figure 3. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, March 1, 2020 – October 16, 2021

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Figure 4. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, November 1, 2020 – October 16, 2021

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Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Health Region Cases Percentage
Winnipeg RHA 35168 56.6%
Southern Health-Santé Sud 9182 14.8%
Interlake-Eastern RHA 4624 7.4%
Prairie Mountain Health 4564 7.3%
Northern Health Region 8645 13.9%
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Figure 5. Vaccination Status in New Cases 12+, non-ICU Hospital Admissions, ICU Admissions, Deaths, and VOCs, Manitoba, October 10, 2021 – October 16, 2021

Note: Unprotected Case: Individuals vaccinated 0–13 days following the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Partially Vaccinated Case: Individuals vaccinated >=14 days following the first dose of a 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine if only one dose was received and 0-13 days following the second dose if two doses were received. Fully Vaccinated Case: Individuals vaccinated >=14 days following the second dose of a 2-dose series or first dose of a 1-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine.

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Table 2. COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination, Manitoba, December 16, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Partially vaccinated % Fully vaccinated %
Table 2a. COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination, Overall
AZ/COVISHIELD 418 17.8% 15 1.0%
Janssen N/A N/A 7 0.5%
Moderna 520 22.2% 493 32.3%
Pfizer 1,408 60.0% 791 51.9%
Mixed vaccine products N/A N/A 216 14.2%
Total 2,346 100% 1,524 100%
Table 2b. COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination by Age Group
12-19 127 5.4% 92 6.0%
20-29 263 11.2% 216 14.2%
30-39 286 12.2% 283 18.6%
40-49 347 14.8% 251 16.5%
50-59 456 19.4% 223 14.6%
60-69 451 19.2% 223 14.6%
70-79 251 10.7% 123 8.1%
80+ 165 7.0% 113 7.4%
Total 2,346 100% 1,524 100%
Table 2c. Severe COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination
Hospitalizations (including ICU admissions)
12-19 1 0.4% 3 2.9%
20-29 12 5.3% 3 2.9%
30-39 11 4.9% 6 5.9%
40-49 13 5.8% 6 5.9%
50-59 34 15.1% 10 9.8%
60-69 47 20.9% 24 23.5%
70+ 107 47.6% 50 49.0%
Total hospitalizations 225 100% 102 100%
Deaths
12-19 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
20-29 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
30-39 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
40-49 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
50-59 9 19.1% 1 4.5%
60-69 9 19.1% 6 27.3%
70+ 29 61.7% 15 68.2%
Total deaths 47 100% 22 100%
Table 2d. COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination by Sex
Infections in females 1,254 53.5% 853 56.0%
Infections in males 1,092 46.5% 671 44.0%
Total 2,346 100% 1,524 100%
Table 2e. COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination by VOC
B.1.1.7 - Alpha 537 22.9% 80 5.2%
B.1.6.1.7.2 - Delta 174 7.4% 226 14.8%
Other 37 1.6% 10 0.7%
Unspecified 811 34.6% 757 49.7%
Non-VOC 787 33.5% 451 29.6%
Total 2,346 100% 1,524 100%

Note. Other VOCs include AY.3 (Delta Plus), B.1.351 (Beta), B.1.617, B.1.617.2 (Kappa), and P.1 (Gamma).

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Testing

Figure 6. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 16, 2021

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Table 3. Cumulative National Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Province/Territory, Canada, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Province Confirmed Cases Tests Completed Test Rate in Population (Estimated %) Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta 314,252 5,687,209 130.7% 5.5%
British Columbia 196,433 4,023,651 79.7% 4.9%
Manitoba 61,987 1,095,735 80.3% 5.7%
New Brunswick 5,669 511,874 66.1% 1.1%
Newfoundland and Labrador 1,881 374,803 71.7% 0.5%
Northwest Territories 1,617 33,665 75.0% 4.8%
Nova Scotia 7,077 1,267,394 131.1% 0.6%
Nunavut 671 21,280 55.0% 3.2%
Ontario 593,933 18,361,973 126.8% 3.2%
Prince Edward Island 312 210,676 135.3% 0.1%
Quebec 418,508 12,057,782 142.7% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 73,662 1,181,093 100.9% 6.2%
Yukon 831 9,129 22.5% 9.1%
Canada 1,676,846 44,836,340 119.9% 3.7%

Note. National testing data are collected daily from the national Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Outbreak update webpage.

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Severity

Figure 7. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Note. ICU admissions are not included in the hospital admissions.

Figure 8. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Figure 9. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Note. Musculoskeletal illnesses include: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, gout and crystal Arthropathies; COPD-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVD-cardiovascular disease; Other CVDs include: ischemic heart disease, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke; Other chronic conditions include: parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. About definitions of chronic conditions

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Risk Factors

Table 4. Source of Infection in Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Source of Infection Cases Percentage
Close contact of known case 1585 57.5%
Pending 209 7.6%
Travel 37 1.3%
Unknown 927 33.6%
All Cases 2758

Table 5. Roles of Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Role Cases Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff 1684 61.1%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse 702 25.5%
Not identified 221 8%
Physician/Physician in training 93 3.4%
First Responder 58 2.1%
All Cases 2758

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Outbreaks

Figure 10. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – 2021

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Contacts

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 35168 3 0 249
Southern Health - Sante Sud 9182 2 0 69
Northern Health 8645 1 0 121
Interlake-Eastern Health 4624 2 0 76
Prairie Mountain Health 4564 3 0 134

Table 7. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 41, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Southern Health - Sante Sud 196 3 0 38
Northern Health 139 0 0 4
Winnipeg Health 127 4 0 19
Prairie Mountain Health 87 3 0 48
Interlake-Eastern Health 41 0 0 12

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Figure 11. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Top-five Cluster/Outbreak/Special Investigation Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – October 16, 2021

Note: COVID-19 public health orders in Manitoba since January 23, 2021: PH order #1 (effective January 23, 2021), PH order #2 (effective March 5, 2021), PH order #3 (effective March 26, 2021), PH order #4 (effective April 19, 2021), PH order #5 (effective April 28, 2021), PH order #6 (effective May 9, 2021), PH order #7 (effective May 22, 2021), PH order #8 (effective May 29, 2021), PH order #9 (effective June 12, 2021), PH order #10 (effective June 26, 2021), PH order #11: (effective July 17, 2021), PH order #12: (effective August 7, 2021), PH order #13: (effective August 28, 2021), PH order #14: (effective October 5, 2021). Content of Public Health Orders

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Figure 12. Percentage of Total COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Transmission Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – October 16, 2021

Note: COVID-19 public health orders in Manitoba since January 23, 2021: PH order #1 (effective January 23, 2021), PH order #2 (effective March 5, 2021), PH order #3 (effective March 26, 2021), PH order #4 (effective April 19, 2021), PH order #5 (effective April 28, 2021), PH order #6 (effective May 9, 2021), PH order #7 (effective May 22, 2021), PH order #8 (effective May 29, 2021), PH order #9 (effective June 12, 2021), PH order #10 (effective June 26, 2021), PH order #11: (effective July 17, 2021), PH order #12: (effective August 7, 2021), PH order #13: (effective August 28, 2021), PH order #14: (effective October 5, 2021). Content of Public Health Orders

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Figure 13. Percentage of Community-transmitted COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Acquisition Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – October 16, 2021

Note: COVID-19 public health orders in Manitoba since January 23, 2021: PH order #1 (effective January 23, 2021), PH order #2 (effective March 5, 2021), PH order #3 (effective March 26, 2021), PH order #4 (effective April 19, 2021), PH order #5 (effective April 28, 2021), PH order #6 (effective May 9, 2021), PH order #7 (effective May 22, 2021), PH order #8 (effective May 29, 2021), PH order #9 (effective June 12, 2021), PH order #10 (effective June 26, 2021), PH order #11: (effective July 17, 2021), PH order #12: (effective August 7, 2021), PH order #13: (effective August 28, 2021), PH order #14: (effective October 5, 2021). Content of Public Health Orders

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Symptoms

Figure 14. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 16, 2021

Note: Other symptoms include those less common symptoms such as sweating, runny eyes, itchy throat, etc.

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