Manitoba hits 1,000 death mark, new record for COVID-19 cases in ICU, north curve stays mostly flat

Wednesday was another day of high COVID-19 cases in southern Manitoba and low cases in the north - although two new cases were confirmed in the Flin Flon district.

Throughout Manitoba, 364 new cases of COVID-19 were found, with most in Winnipeg and almost all others based around southern health districts. Only 10 cases were reported within the Northern Health Region (NHR), with three cases each found in the Bunibonibee/Oxford House/Manto Sipi/Gods River/Gods Lake and Thompson/Mystery Lake districts.

Two new cases were reported in the Flin Flon/Snow Lake/Cranberry Portage/Sherridon district, which now sits at nine active cases. Since the pandemic began, 165 people in the Flin Flon district have tested positive for COVID-19.

No new outbreaks or possible public exposures have been announced by provincial public health authorities in the NHR. There are, according to public health officials, 282 active cases of COVID-19 in northern Manitoba.

While the picture is bright in the north, things are worsening in the south. Three more deaths from COVID-19 were announced by the province, each of which were tied to COVID-19 variants of concern. The three deaths push Manitoba to a total of 1,000 deaths due to COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Manitoba is now up to 221 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 62 people in intensive care - the highest level Manitoba has had during the entire pandemic.

For more information about cases in northern districts, see below.

On the vaccine front, Manitoba boosted its provincial vaccine eligibility to include all people age 18 and over. As of May 12, all adults living in Manitoba are eligible to book an appointment for a first dose. For the north, all people who live or work in the NHR and are over age 18 have been able to book a shot for three weeks and shots will be available at the Flin Flon Community Hall for four clinics - including May 13 and 14 - with no appointment necessary.

The province also changed its own approach for AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccines, restricting first doses of the vaccine only to people who may not be able to receive other vaccines. The changes in eligibility are due, say provincial health officials, to issues with supply of the vaccine. Most doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Manitoba will be set aside to be used as second doses for people who have already gotten one AstraZeneca dose.

Manitoba is also planning to begin booking for second dose appointments in the near future - no firm date for when second doses will become available has been announced, but May 22 has been mentioned as a likely date. People getting their second dose will need to provide the date of their first dose and the type of vaccine they received when booking a new appointment.

Saskatchewan

The story is similar in Saskatchewan - few northern cases and most of the province's case load down south. Another 183 cases were found in Saskatchewan Wednesday, with most of the new cases based in Saskatoon and Regina. No new cases were found in the far north east health zone, including none in the far north east 2 health zone which covers Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay. There are now two cases listed as active in the far north east 2 health zone - the exact whereabouts of the cases within the district are unknown.

In Saskatchewan, all people living in the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District over age 18 can book an appointment for a vaccine, with people in all other areas age 26 and up now eligible to book appointments.