Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza


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.

Epidemiology and Surveillance also continues to monitor the activity of seasonal influenza in Manitoba during this pandemic. During the 2020–2021 influenza season, routine reporting of seasonal influenza is included in this weekly report.

In this weekly respiratory surveillance report, we provide regular updates about the current activity of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza in Manitoba with overall objectives:

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.

Week 31 (August 1 – August 7)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on August 13, 2021
Next reporting date: August 23, 2021

COVID-19: Decreased Activity

In Week 31, there were 189 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, a decrease from 205 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests decreased to on average 1,353 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 1,440 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 2.4%, an increase from 2.3% in the previous week.

In the 189 cases reported this week, 44% were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and 38% were reported from the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority. The remaining cases were reported from Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority (12%), Northern Health Region (4%), and Prairie Mountain Health Authority (2%).

This week, 119 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, a decrease from 136 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 63% of new cases reported this week.

As of August 7, a total of 1,833,337 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered and 80.4% of residents aged 12 years and older in Manitoba have been immunized with at least one dose.

Cases

About cases

  • New cases: 189
  • Total cases: 57,840
  • Total VOC cases: 16,855
  • Recovered cases: 56,176
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 1,353
  • Weekly positivity rate: 2.4%

Total

  • Tested people: 522,094
  • Population tested: 38.3%
  • Specimens tested: 885,341
  • Positivity rate: 7.0%
More Analyses

Severity

About severity

Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19:

  • Hospitalizations: 4,004
    • ICU admissions3: 908
  • Deaths: 1,184
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks: 241

  • Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 120
  • Outbreaks in schools: 6
More Analyses

Exposure

About exposure

Source of infection in cases (% of total)

  • Travel: 1.3%
  • Close contact to cases: 55.9%
  • Unknown: 24.8%
  • Pending: 18.1%

Top five outbreak/cluster/special investigation settings4

  • Workplace: 36.3%
  • Industrial setting: 17.7%
  • Daycare: 10.1%
  • Acute care setting: 7.9%
  • School: 7.9%
More Analyses

Transmission and Acquisition

About transmission and acquisition

Top five transmission settings in all cases5

  • Household: 61.5%
  • Social gathering: 11.7%
  • Workplace: 9.9%
  • Transportation: 4.4%
  • School: 3.2%

Top five acquisition settings in cases with unknown source of infection6

  • Household: 29.6%
  • Workplace: 16.8%
  • Retail: 11.0%
  • Social gathering: 6.6%
  • School: 3.7%
More Analyses

Symptoms

About symptoms

Symptomatic cases: 73.1%

Top symptoms (% of reports)

  • Cough: 46.2%
  • Headache: 38.2%
  • Fever: 32.0%
  • Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.3%
  • Sore Throat: 27.5%
More Analyses

Risk Factors

About risk factors

  • Pregnant cases: 708
  • Health care workers7: 2,577
  • Deceased health care workers: 4
  • Recovered health care workers: 2,567
More Analyses

Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity

A large number of respiratory specimens continued to be tested for seasonal influenza. There were no laboratory-confirmed influenza cases reported in Manitoba in Week 31.

As of August 7, 31.6% of residents in Manitoba have been immunized with seasonal influenza vaccines.

Influenza Cases

About cases

New cases this week

  • Influenza A: 0
  • Influenza B: 0

Total cases from September 1, 2020

  • Influenza A: 4
  • Influenza B: 3

Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity

The respiratory activity levels in the community, primary care and emergency rooms continued to be low for this time of a year. The number of respiratory outbreaks reported that were not due to COVID-19 remains low.

FluWatchers

About FluWatchers

Participants reporting: 548

Reporting fever and cough: 0.2%

Check Trend

Physician Visits

About sentinal physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians: 0.0%

Check Trend

Antiviral

About Antiviral

Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies: 0

ED Visits

About emergency room visits

Average daily respiratory visits to emergency department (ED): 105

Check Trend

Important Notes

  1. Data about COVID-19 cases and contacts aswell as influenza cases 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 16, 2020 – August 7, 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 16, 2020 – August 7, 2021

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Figure 3. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, March 1, 2020 – August 7, 2021

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Figure 4. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, September 1, 2020 – September 1, 2021

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Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

Health Region Cases Percentage
Winnipeg RHA 33923 58.6%
Southern Health-Santé Sud 7672 13.3%
Interlake-Eastern RHA 4233 7.3%
Prairie Mountain Health 4014 6.9%
Northern Health Region 7998 13.8%

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Testing

Figure 5. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, August 16, 2020 – August 7, 2021

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Table 2. Cumulative National Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Province/Territory, Canada, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

Province Confirmed Cases Tests Completed Test Rate in Population (Estimated %) Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta 236,010 4,888,091 112.3% 4.8%
British Columbia 151,839 3,135,439 62.1% 4.8%
Manitoba 57,764 926,725 67.9% 6.2%
New Brunswick 2,414 396,086 51.2% 0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador 1,443 314,795 60.2% 0.5%
Northwest Territories 130 25,945 57.8% 0.5%
Nova Scotia 5,900 1,042,218 107.8% 0.6%
Nunavut 657 18,644 48.2% 3.5%
Ontario 551,678 16,515,286 114.0% 3.3%
Prince Edward Island 212 180,306 115.8% 0.1%
Quebec 378,680 10,417,587 123.3% 3.6%
Saskatchewan 50,338 965,577 82.5% 5.2%
Yukon 623 9,129 22.5% 6.8%
Canada 1,437,701 38,835,904 103.8% 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 6. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 16, 2020 – August 7, 2021

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

Figure 7. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

Figure 8. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 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 3. Source of Infection in Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

Source of Infection Cases Percentage
Close contact of known case 1512 58.7%
Pending 197 7.6%
Travel 25 1%
Unknown 843 32.7%
All Cases 2577

Table 4. Roles of Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

Role Cases Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff 1578 61.2%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse 662 25.7%
Not identified 194 7.5%
Physician/Physician in training 87 3.4%
First Responder 56 2.2%
All Cases 2577

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Outbreaks

Figure 9. Weekly Respiratory and COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – 2021

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Contacts

Table 5. COVID-19 Contact Summary in All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 33923 3 0 249
Northern Health 7998 1 0 121
Southern Health - Sante Sud 7672 2 0 69
Interlake-Eastern Health 4233 1 0 76
Prairie Mountain Health 4014 3 0 134

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 31, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 84 5 0 27
Interlake-Eastern Health 72 0 0 38
Southern Health - Sante Sud 23 2 0 10
Northern Health 7 0 0 16
Prairie Mountain Health 3 0 0 10

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Figure 10. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Top-five Cluster/Outbreak/Special Investigation Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – August 7, 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). Content of Public Health Orders

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Figure 11. Percentage of Total COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Transmission Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – August 7, 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). Content of Public Health Orders

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Figure 12. Percentage of Community-transmitted COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Acquisition Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – August 7, 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). Content of Public Health Orders

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Symptoms

Figure 13. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 7, 2021

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

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FluWatchers

Figure 14. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

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Physician Visits

Figure 15. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2021

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ED Visits

Figure 16. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Manitoba, 2018 – 2021

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Epidemiology and Surveillance

epiCOVID@gov.mb.ca

Other Epidemiology and Surveillance reports

http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/surveillance/index.html