Second-highest day for new COVID-19 cases

Manitoba saw its second-highest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases as 427 new cases of the virus were announced Thursday alongside four more COVID-19-related deaths.

Of the four deaths, three are linked to COVID-19 outbreaks at Winnipeg hospitals: a man and woman, both in their 70s, died in connection to the outbreak at Victoria Hospital and a woman in her 80s died in connection to the outbreak at St. Boniface Hospital.

A woman in her 50s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region also died.

The number of COVID-19 deaths in Manitoba is now 91.

The Manitoba government reported 427 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday; one case was later found to be from out of province, for a net total of 426 new cases. This brings the number of active cases in the province to 4,166, and the total number of cases confirmed since March to 7,177.

There are 265 new cases in the Winnipeg region, 15 in Prairie Mountain Health, 32 in Interlake-Eastern, 60 in Northern Health and 55 in Southern Health-Santé Sud.

There are 69 active cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region, 24 of which are in Brandon.

The current five-day test positivity rate is 8.9 per cent across the province and nine per cent in Winnipeg. Laboratory testing numbers indicate 4,055 COVID-19 tests were performed Wednesday.

There are 153 people in hospital, an increase of 13 from the previous day (140). Sixteen people are in intensive care, a decrease of five from the previous day (21).

SCHOOLS TAKE PRECAUTIONS

Possible COVID-19 exposure has been advised for two schools located within the Prairie Mountain Health region.

Staff and students at Reston School are self-isolating after two confirmed COVID-19 cases were discovered at the school on Wednesday.

The news was posted to an online government list of possible COVID-19 exposures Thursday evening, including a letter from Prairie Mountain Health informing parents of the virus’s presence at Reston School dated Nov. 4.

According to the letter, Reston School would close for 24 hours to allow for a public health investigation to take place and further communication would be provided the next day. Until then, “students and staff must self-isolate (quarantine) while this investigation is completed” and any close contacts identified would be contacted directly by public health and provided with further instructions.

Reston School is not permitted to release any additional information about the confirmed cases to any member of the school, community or media.

A confirmed case of COVID-19 was present at École Secondaire Neelin High School on Oct. 27 while possibly infectious, the Brandon School Division announced Thursday evening.

In a written statement, the school division said a public health investigation determined the exposure to be low risk and that the infection is not believed to have been acquired at the school.

Neelin would undergo a thorough cleaning Thursday night and reopen for staff and students this morning.

» eklatt@brandonsun.com

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