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:

• To understand COVID-19 within the respiratory context;
• To present a detailed overview about COVID-19 cases and contacts; and
• To continue monitor and report on seasonal influenza during the pandemic.

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.

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Week 17 (April 25 – May 1)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on May 7, 2021
Next reporting date: May 17, 2021

COVID-19: High Activity In Week 17, there were 1,688 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 1,456 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests increased to on average 3,426 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 3,117 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 7.6%, an increase from 7.0% in the previous week. In the 1,688 cases reported this week, majority (70%) were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health and 14% were reported from the Prairie Mountain Health Authority. The remaining cases were reported from Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority (7%), Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (5%) and Northern Health Region (4%). This week, 1146 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, an increase from 835 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for close to 70% of new cases reported this week. As of May 1, a total of 485,374 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered and 38.3% of residents aged 18 years and older in Manitoba have been immunized with at least one dose.		Cases About cases New cases: 1,688 Total cases: 39,303 Total VOC cases: 3,007 Recovered cases: 36,885 More Analyses Epi curve Epi curve of VOCs Daily Case Counts (.csv) Age and sex Health region National update
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 3,426 Weekly positivity rate: 7.6% Total Tested people: 432,054 Population tested: 31.7% Specimens tested: 668,187 Positivity rate: 6.3% More Analyses Provincial testing National testing	Severity About severity Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19: Hospitalizations: 2,692 ICU admissions: 590 Deaths: 985 More Analyses Severe Outcomes Age Underlying Illness	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks: 222 Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 114 Outbreaks in schools: 6 More Analyses Check trend Outbreak list
Exposure About exposure Source of infection in cases (% of total) Travel: 1.5% Close contact to cases: 53.6% Unknown: 23.3% Pending: 21.6% Close contacts Top contact type: Household exposure More Analyses Contacts	Risk Factors About risk factors Pregnant cases: 434 Health care workers**: 2,102 Deceased Health care workers: 2 Recovered health care workers: 2,085 More Analyses Health care workers	Symptoms About symptoms Symptomatic cases: 71.8% Top symptoms (% of reports) Cough: 44.6% Headache: 37.8% Fever: 30.6% Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.3% Sore Throat: 26.7% More Analyses All symptoms
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 17. As of May 1, 31.8% 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: 2 Influenza B: 1
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: 621 Reporting fever and cough: 0.5% 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 Data about COVID-19 cases and contacts aswell as influenza cases are extracted from PHIMS. 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. *ICU admissions were also included in hospitalizations. **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, June 2020 – Present

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, June 2020 – Present

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Figure 3. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, March 2020 – Present

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Figure 4. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, June 2020 – Present

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Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region, Manitoba, March 2020 – Present

Health Region	Cases	Percentage
Winnipeg RHA	21778	55.4%
Southern Health-Santé Sud	5287	13.5%
Interlake-Eastern RHA	2713	6.9%
Prairie Mountain Health	2713	6.9%
Northern Health Region	6812	17.3%

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Testing

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

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

Province	Confirmed Cases	Tests Completed	Test Rate in Population (Estimated %)	Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta	190,734	4,127,070	94.9%	4.6%
British Columbia	129,482	2,480,179	49.1%	5.2%
Manitoba	38,722	676,532	49.6%	5.7%
New Brunswick	1,915	298,490	38.6%	0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,076	242,140	46.3%	0.4%
Northwest Territories	51	18,351	40.9%	0.3%
Nova Scotia	2,427	551,664	57.1%	0.4%
Nunavut	501	11,881	30.7%	4.2%
Ontario	463,364	13,901,630	96.0%	3.3%
Prince Edward Island	181	142,802	91.7%	0.1%
Quebec	349,773	8,254,648	97.7%	4.2%
Saskatchewan	41,098	764,890	65.3%	5.4%
Yukon	81	8,939	22.0%	0.9%
Canada	1,219,418	31,479,292	84.2%	3.9%

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, June 2020 – Present

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 2020 – Present

Figure 8. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, March 2020 – Present

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 2020 – Present

Source of Infection	Cases	Percentage
Close contact of known case	1249	59.4%
Pending	186	8.8%
Travel	21	1%
Unknown	646	30.7%
All Cases	2102

Table 4. Roles of Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 2020 – Present

Role	Cases	Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff	1237	58.8%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse	584	27.8%
Not identified	158	7.5%
Physician/Physician in training	78	3.7%
First Responder	45	2.1%
All Cases	2102

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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 2020 – Present

Regional Health Authority	Cases	Median Contacts	Minimum Contacts	Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health	21778	3	0	249
Northern Health	6812	0	0	66
Southern Health - Sante Sud	5287	2	0	66
Interlake-Eastern Health	2713	1	0	58
Prairie Mountain Health	2713	3	0	134

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 17, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority	Cases	Median Contacts	Minimum Contacts	Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health	1179	4.0	0	111
Prairie Mountain Health	232	2.5	0	48
Southern Health - Sante Sud	116	2.0	0	37
Interlake-Eastern Health	82	3.0	0	42
Northern Health	79	0.0	0	49

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Symptoms

Figure 10. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, March 2020 – Present

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

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FluWatchers

Figure 11. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

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Physician Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2021

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ED Visits

Figure 13. 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

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