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 43 (October 24 – October 30)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on November 5, 2021
Next reporting date: November 15, 2021

COVID-19: Increased Activity

In Week 43, there were 752 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 665 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests increased to on average 2,760 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 2,706 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 4.2%, an increase from 3.7% in the previous week.

In the 752 cases reported this week, 49% were reported from the Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority and 19% were reported from the Northern Health Region. The remaining cases were reported from Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (15%), Prairie Mountain Health Authority (12%), and Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (5%).

This week, 537 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, an increase from 435 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 71.4% of new cases reported this week.

In all Manitoba residents aged 12 years and older, 88.4% of residents have been partially vaccinated and 84.3% 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: 752
  • Total cases: 63,601
  • Total VOC cases: 21,131
  • Recovered cases: 61,654
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Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 2,760
  • Weekly positivity rate: 4.2%

Total

  • Tested people: 603,469
  • Population tested: 44.2%
  • Specimens tested: 1,090,354
  • Positivity rate: 6.3%
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Severity

About severity

Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19:

  • Hospitalizations: 4,483
    • ICU admissions3: 983
  • Deaths: 1,253
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Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks: 256

  • Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 122
  • Outbreaks in schools: 14
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Exposure

About exposure

Source of infection in cases (% of total)

  • Travel: 1.5%
  • Close contact to cases: 55.2%
  • Unknown: 25.6%
  • Pending: 17.7%

Top five outbreak/cluster/special investigation settings4

  • Workplace: 33.1%
  • Industrial setting: 15.3%
  • School: 12.1%
  • Daycare: 9.4%
  • Acute care setting: 6.7%
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Transmission and Acquisition

About transmission and acquisition

Top five transmission settings in all cases5

  • Household: 65.0%
  • Social gathering: 14.4%
  • Workplace: 9.9%
  • Transportation: 4.7%
  • School: 2.4%

Top five acquisition settings in cases with unknown source of infection6

  • Household: 48.2%
  • Workplace: 24.6%
  • Social gathering: 14.9%
  • Retail: 9.2%
  • Food services establishments: 5.6%
More Analyses

Symptoms

About symptoms

Symptomatic cases: 73.7%

Top symptoms (% of reports)

  • Cough: 46.8%
  • Headache: 38.2%
  • Fever: 32.2%
  • Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.2%
  • Sore Throat: 27.7%
More Analyses

Risk Factors

About risk factors

  • Pregnant cases: 814
  • Health care workers7: 2,814
  • Deceased health care workers: 4
  • Recovered health care workers: 2,792
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 30, 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 30, 2021

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Figure 3. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, March 1, 2020 – October 30, 2021

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Figure 4. Incidence Rate (/10,000 Population) of COVID-19 Cases by Age Group and Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 30, 2021

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Figure 5. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, November 1, 2020 – October 30, 2021

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Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 30, 2021

Health Region Total Cases Cases this week Incidence Rate Age-standardized Incidence Rate *
Winnipeg RHA 35424 114 1.4 1.4
Southern Health-Santé Sud 9838 366 17.3 17.1
Interlake-Eastern RHA 4689 39 2.9 3.0
Prairie Mountain Health 4728 89 5.2 5.1
Northern Health Region 8922 144 18.6 18.7

Note: * Age-standardized rates are used to account for differences in the age structure in health regions. The whole Manitoba population is used as the standard population.

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Figure 6. Vaccination Status in New Cases 12+, non-ICU Hospital Admissions, ICU Admissions, Deaths, and VOCs, Manitoba, October 24, 2021 – October 30, 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 30, 2021

Partially vaccinated % Fully vaccinated %
2a. Cases After Vaccination, Overall
AZ/COVISHIELD 418 17.4% 23 1.2%
Janssen N/A N/A 9 0.5%
Moderna 542 22.6% 665 34.0%
Pfizer 1,439 60.0% 969 49.6%
Mixed vaccine products N/A N/A 286 14.6%
Total 2,399 100% 1,954 100%
2b. Cases After Vaccination by Age Group
12-19 142 5.9% 122 6.2%
20-29 275 11.5% 276 14.1%
30-39 298 12.4% 362 18.5%
40-49 352 14.7% 340 17.4%
50-59 460 19.2% 285 14.6%
60-69 454 18.9% 272 13.9%
70-79 253 10.5% 151 7.7%
80+ 165 6.9% 146 7.5%
Total 2,399 100% 1,954 100%
2c. Severe Cases After Vaccination
Hospitalizations (including ICU admissions)
12-19 1 0.4% 3 2.4%
20-29 13 5.7% 5 4.1%
30-39 11 4.8% 6 4.9%
40-49 13 5.7% 9 7.3%
50-59 34 15.0% 13 10.6%
60-69 48 21.1% 28 22.8%
70+ 107 47.1% 59 48.0%
Total hospitalizations 227 100% 123 100%
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 3.8%
60-69 9 19.1% 7 26.9%
70+ 29 61.7% 18 69.2%
Total deaths 47 100% 26 100%
2d. Cases After Vaccination by Sex
Infections in females 1,281 53.4% 1,083 55.4%
Infections in males 1,118 46.6% 871 44.6%
Total 2,399 100% 1,954 100%
2e. Cases After Vaccination by VOC
B.1.1.7 - Alpha 536 22.3% 80 4.1%
B.1.6.1.7.2 - Delta 186 7.8% 302 15.5%
Other 37 1.5% 10 0.5%
Unspecified 826 34.4% 942 48.2%
Non-VOC 814 33.9% 620 31.7%
Total 2,399 100% 1,954 100%

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 7. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 30, 2021

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Table 3. Cumulative National Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Province/Territory, Canada, March 13, 2020 – October 30, 2021

Province Confirmed Cases Tests Completed Test Rate in Population (Estimated %) Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta 322,989 5,829,190 134.0% 5.5%
British Columbia 204,914 4,214,691 83.5% 4.9%
Manitoba 63,353 1,132,748 83.0% 5.6%
New Brunswick 6,380 535,476 69.2% 1.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador 1,992 388,142 74.2% 0.5%
Northwest Territories 1,863 34,724 77.3% 5.4%
Nova Scotia 7,354 1,307,232 135.2% 0.6%
Nunavut 674 21,775 56.3% 3.1%
Ontario 599,259 18,746,500 129.4% 3.2%
Prince Edward Island 317 217,438 139.7% 0.1%
Quebec 424,802 12,437,804 147.2% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 77,305 1,217,387 104.0% 6.4%
Yukon 913 9,129 22.5% 10.0%
Canada 1,712,128 46,092,312 123.2% 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 8. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – October 30, 2021

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

Figure 9. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 30, 2021

Figure 10. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 30, 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 30, 2021

Source of Infection Cases Percentage
Close contact of known case 1610 57.2%
Pending 210 7.5%
Travel 37 1.3%
Unknown 957 34%
All Cases 2814

Table 5. Roles of Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 30, 2021

Role Cases Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff 1722 61.2%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse 719 25.6%
Not identified 221 7.9%
Physician/Physician in training 94 3.3%
First Responder 58 2.1%
All Cases 2814

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Outbreaks

Figure 11. 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 30, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 35424 3 0 249
Southern Health - Sante Sud 9838 2 0 69
Northern Health 8922 1 0 121
Prairie Mountain Health 4728 3 0 134
Interlake-Eastern Health 4689 2 0 76

Table 7. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 43, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Southern Health - Sante Sud 366 3.0 0 41
Northern Health 144 0.0 0 18
Winnipeg Health 114 3.5 0 37
Prairie Mountain Health 89 4.0 0 22
Interlake-Eastern Health 39 4.0 0 31

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Figure 12. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Top-five Cluster/Outbreak/Special Investigation Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – October 30, 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 Total COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Transmission Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – October 30, 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 14. Percentage of Community-transmitted COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Acquisition Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – October 30, 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 15. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – October 30, 2021

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

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