The tale of two provinces continues with Manitoba and Saskatchewan on COVID-19, but the roles have been switched. It’s now Manitoba breaking new records for cases, while Saskatchewan’s curve is flattening once again.
Within the entire province, Manitoba broke new records for its highest number of new COVID-19 cases in a day, reporting 42 cases August 22 and a new record 72 cases August 23. Forty-nine new cases were announced August 24 - a three day total of 163 cases.
Out of the new cases, almost all have been reported in the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region in southwest Manitoba - 104 during the three day span. The rise in cases has been linked to both an increase in testing in communities, particularly in Brandon, and increased spread in outbreaks at workplaces and in Hutterite communities. Most of the PMH cases reported August 23 and 24 have been linked to Hutterite community clusters. Investigations into the new cases are continuing.
As of August 24, 395 people in Manitoba have COVID-19 and 993 people have been diagnosed with the disease since the pandemic began. One active case is in northern Manitoba, according to provincial data released August 23.
Within PMH, tight restrictions are now in place due to the high number of cases and community spread. The region is currently under an “orange” level according to the new provincial pandemic response system, meaning tightened restrictions. Within PMH, masks will be mandatory at all indoor and outdoor spaces. All public gatherings indoors or outside will be restricted to 10 people or less, with exceptions for events otherwise covered by existing public health orders or where social distancing can be achieved easily. All people within PMH going into indoor public spaces will need to wear masks that cover their mouth, nose and chin without gaps. Those restrictions are only in place for PMH and are not in place for any other health region in Manitoba as of August 24.
Within the Northern Health Region, testing levels have remained more or less constant in the past two months. According to statistics sent to The Reminder by Shared Health Manitoba and the Northern Health Region, the number of tests conducted each week in Flin Flon has hovered consistently around 25-35 tests per week in the community. Since July 2, 215 tests have been conducted in Flin Flon. Within Flin Flon, testing is available at Flin Flon General Hospital for people meeting provincial guidelines for being screened or who have been referred by a health professional.
Testing numbers in The Pas have slightly exceeded those of Flin Flon, particularly in the past week. Sixty-one tests were carried out at the community’s testing station last week, with 232 total tests conducted since the start of July. Thompson has seen a far higher number of tests, with 454 tests conducted there between July 2-August 21.
Saskatchewan
COVID-19 is continuing its long, slow slide in Saskatchewan.
The province only reported three new cases August 24, continuing an eight-day streak of new cases in the single digits. Saskatchewan has not seen more than nine new cases of COVID-19 in any day since August 16. All three of the new August 24 cases were found in the north west region.
Active cases in the province are now down to double digits, with 98 people in Saskatchewan currently ill with COVID-19. Since the pandemic started, 1,602 people province-wide have contracted COVID-19. Five people are still hospitalized in Saskatchewan due to the disease, with four people in intensive care as of August 24.
Testing in Saskatchewan is currently available to all people requesting a test, whether they have symptoms or not.
No active cases of the disease remain in far north Saskatchewan, the region that has been hit hardest by COVID-19. Outbreaks in communities like La Loche have been quelled and provincial reopening plans are now underway in the region.
