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 46 (November 14 – November 20)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on November 26, 2021
Next reporting date: December 6, 2021

COVID-19: Increased Activity

In Week 46, there were 1,086 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 1,070 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests increased to on average 2,879 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 2,761 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 5.6%, a decrease from 6.1% in the previous week.

In the 1,086 cases reported this week, 41% were reported from the Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority and 27% were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The remaining cases were reported from Prairie Mountain Health Authority (13%), Northern Health Region (12%), and Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (7%).

This week, 647 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, a decrease from 602 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 59.6% of new cases reported this week.

In all Manitoba residents aged 12 years and older, 89.6% of residents have been partially vaccinated and 86.4% have been fully vaccinated.

Cases

About cases

  • New cases: 1,086
  • Total cases: 66,700
  • Total VOC cases: 23,124
  • Recovered cases: 64,437
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 2,879
  • Weekly positivity rate: 5.6%

Total

  • Tested people: 624,575
  • Population tested: 45.8%
  • Specimens tested: 1,150,476
  • Positivity rate: 6.2%
More Analyses

Severity

About severity

Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19:

  • Hospitalizations: 4,736
    • ICU admissions3: 1,028
  • Deaths: 1,304
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

2021 COVID-19 outbreaks: 120

  • Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 42
  • Outbreaks in schools: 22

Total COVID-19 outbreaks: 282

  • Total outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 128
  • Total outbreaks in schools: 24
More Analyses

Exposure

About exposure

Source of infection in cases (% of total)

  • Travel: 1.6%
  • Close contact to cases: 54.7%
  • Unknown: 25.9%
  • Pending: 17.8%

Top five outbreak/cluster/special investigation settings4

  • Workplace: 32.3%
  • School: 14.8%
  • Industrial setting: 13.8%
  • Daycare: 8.4%
  • Acute care setting: 7.4%
More Analyses

Transmission and Acquisition

About transmission and acquisition

Top five transmission settings in all cases5

  • Household: 64.2%
  • Social gathering: 14.3%
  • Workplace: 9.9%
  • Transportation: 4.5%
  • School: 2.8%

Top five acquisition settings in cases with unknown source of infection6

  • Household: 47.0%
  • Workplace: 23.7%
  • Social gathering: 14.4%
  • Retail: 8.8%
  • Food services establishments: 5.4%
More Analyses

Symptoms

About symptoms

Symptomatic cases: 73.7%

Top symptoms (% of reports)

  • Cough: 47.3%
  • Headache: 38.3%
  • Fever: 32.3%
  • Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.1%
  • Sore Throat: 27.8%
More Analyses

Risk Factors

About risk factors

  • Pregnant cases: 852
  • Health care workers7: 2,985
  • Deceased health care workers: 4
  • Recovered health care workers: 2,960
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 – November 20, 2021

Note. Deaths due to COVID-19 were aligned by week of death date.
Back

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 – November 20, 2021

Note: After November 26, 2021, Manitoba will no longer publicly report variants of concern (VOC) online or results to public health. As 98% of cases are now Delta variants, there is no longer any clinical implications when this information is received. As a result, VOC information will no longer be reported from next week.

Back

Figure 3. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, March 1, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Back

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 – November 20, 2021

Back

Figure 5. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, December 1, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Back

Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Health Region Total Cases Cases this week Incidence Rate Age-standardized Incidence Rate *
Winnipeg RHA 36264 289 3.7 3.6
Southern Health-Santé Sud 11093 448 21.1 21.2
Interlake-Eastern RHA 4933 71 5.3 5.5
Prairie Mountain Health 5133 144 8.3 8.4
Northern Health Region 9277 134 17.3 16.5

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.

Back

Figure 6. Vaccination Status in New Cases 12+, non-ICU Hospital Admissions, ICU Admissions, Deaths, and VOCs, Manitoba, November 14, 2021 – November 20, 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.

Back


Table 2. COVID-19 Cases After Vaccination, Manitoba, December 16, 2020 – November 20, 2021


2a. Cases and Incidence Rate (/100,000 Vaccinated Individuals) After Vaccination, Overall

Partially vaccinated % Incidence Rate Fully vaccinated % Incidence Rate
AZ/COVISHIELD 419 16.8% 512.5 33 1.0% 438.2
Janssen N/A N/A N/A 12 0.4% 1973.7
Moderna 575 23.1% 276.8 1,062 33.0% 562.0
Pfizer 1,497 60.1% 196.1 1,597 49.7% 262.1
Mixed vaccine products N/A N/A N/A 509 15.8% 493.8
Total 2,491 100% 236.5 3,215 100% 316.4

2b. Cases After Infection by Age Group

Partially vaccinated % Fully vaccinated %
12-19 159 6.4% 220 6.8%
20-29 297 11.9% 434 13.5%
30-39 318 12.8% 604 18.8%
40-49 364 14.6% 594 18.5%
50-59 471 18.9% 457 14.2%
60-69 460 18.5% 399 12.4%
70-79 255 10.2% 244 7.6%
80+ 167 6.7% 263 8.2%
Total 2,491 100% 3,215 100%

2c. Severe Cases After Infection

Partially vaccinated % Fully vaccinated %
Hospitalizations (including ICU admissions)
12-19 1 0.4% 3 1.4%
20-29 14 5.9% 7 3.2%
30-39 13 5.5% 9 4.1%
40-49 14 5.9% 14 6.4%
50-59 36 15.1% 23 10.6%
60-69 51 21.4% 43 19.7%
70+ 109 45.8% 119 54.6%
Total hospitalizations 238 100% 218 100%
Deaths
12-19 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
20-29 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
30-39 1 2.0% 0 0.0%
40-49 0 0.0% 1 2.5%
50-59 9 18.4% 3 7.5%
60-69 10 20.4% 8 20.0%
70+ 29 59.2% 28 70.0%
Total deaths 49 100% 40 100%

2d. Cases After Vaccination by Sex

Partially vaccinated % Fully vaccinated %
Infections in females 1,321 53.0% 1,785 55.5%
Infections in males 1,170 47.0% 1,430 44.5%
Total 2,491 100% 3,215 100%

2e. Cases After Vaccination by VOC

Partially vaccinated % Fully vaccinated %
B.1.1.7 - Alpha 537 21.6% 80 2.5%
B.1.6.1.7.2 - Delta 193 7.7% 401 12.5%
Other 37 1.5% 10 0.3%
Unspecified 874 35.1% 1,541 47.9%
Non-VOC 850 34.1% 1,183 36.8%
Total 2,491 100% 3,215 100%

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

Back


Testing

Figure 7. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Back

Table 3. Cumulative National Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Province/Territory, Canada, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Province Confirmed Cases Tests Completed Test Rate in Population (Estimated %) Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta 331,626 6,018,618 138.3% 5.5%
British Columbia 214,636 4,478,793 88.7% 4.8%
Manitoba 66,378 1,189,454 87.2% 5.6%
New Brunswick 7,512 554,382 71.6% 1.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador 2,035 389,137 74.4% 0.5%
Northwest Territories 2,032 35,661 79.4% 5.7%
Nova Scotia 8,012 1,366,618 141.4% 0.6%
Nunavut 674 22,431 58.0% 3.0%
Ontario 610,222 19,311,894 133.3% 3.2%
Prince Edward Island 339 226,003 145.2% 0.1%
Quebec 437,549 13,032,770 154.3% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 80,025 1,254,854 107.2% 6.4%
Yukon 1,381 9,129 22.5% 15.1%
Canada 1,762,434 47,889,820 128.0% 3.7%

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

Back

Severity

Figure 8. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – November 20, 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 – November 20, 2021

Figure 10. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 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

Back

Risk Factors

Table 4. Source of Infection in Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Source of Infection Cases Percentage
Close contact of known case 1701 57%
Pending 215 7.2%
Travel 41 1.4%
Unknown 1028 34.4%
All Cases 2985

Table 5. Roles of Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Role Cases Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff 1831 61.3%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse 759 25.4%
Not Identified 235 7.9%
Physician/Physician in training 102 3.4%
First Responder 58 1.9%
All Cases 2985

Back

Outbreaks

Figure 11. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – 2021

Back

Contacts

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 36264 3 0 249
Southern Health - Sante Sud 11093 2 0 69
Northern Health 9277 0 0 121
Prairie Mountain Health 5133 3 0 134
Interlake-Eastern Health 4933 2 0 76

Table 7. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 46, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Southern Health - Sante Sud 448 2 0 39
Winnipeg Health 289 3 0 38
Prairie Mountain Health 144 3 0 18
Northern Health 134 0 0 7
Interlake-Eastern Health 71 2 0 34

Back

Figure 12. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Top-five Cluster/Outbreak/Special Investigation Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – November 20, 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), PH order #15: (effective November 13, 2021). Content of Public Health Orders

Back

Figure 13. Percentage of Total COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Transmission Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – November 20, 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), PH order #15: (effective November 13, 2021). Content of Public Health Orders

Back

Figure 14. Percentage of Community-transmitted COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Acquisition Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – November 20, 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), PH order #15: (effective November 13, 2021). Content of Public Health Orders

Back

Symptoms

Figure 15. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – November 20, 2021

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

Back