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 20 (May 16 – May 22)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on May 28, 2021
Next reporting date: June 7, 2021

COVID-19: High Activity

In Week 20, there were 3,258 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 3,235 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests decreased to on average 3,505 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 3,871 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 14.1%, an increase from 12.3% in the previous week.

In the 3,258 cases reported this week, majority (70%) were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health and 12% were reported from the Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority. The remaining cases were reported from Prairie Mountain Health Authority (7%), Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (5%) and Northern Health Region (6%).

This week, 2,421 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, a decrease from 2,461 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 74% of new cases reported this week.

As of May 22, a total of 729,199 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered and 58.4% of residents aged 18 years and older in Manitoba have been immunized with at least one dose.

Cases

About cases

  • New cases: 3,258
  • Total cases: 48,451
  • Total VOC cases: 9,719
  • Recovered cases: 44,345
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 3,505
  • Weekly positivity rate: 14.1%

Total

  • Tested people: 467,773
  • Population tested: 34.3%
  • Specimens tested: 746,541
  • Positivity rate: 6.9%
More Analyses

Severity

About severity

Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19:

  • Hospitalizations: 3,253
    • ICU admissions: 776
  • Deaths: 1,042
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks: 228

  • Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 117
  • Outbreaks in schools: 6
More Analyses

Exposure

About exposure

Source of infection in cases (% of total)

  • Travel: 1.3%
  • Close contact to cases: 55.1%
  • Unknown: 24.3%
  • Pending: 19.3%

Close contacts

  • Top contact type: Household exposure
More Analyses

Risk Factors

About risk factors

  • Pregnant cases: 543
  • Health care workers**: 2,330
  • Deceased Health care workers: 3
  • Recovered health care workers: 2,259
More Analyses

Symptoms

About symptoms

Symptomatic cases: 73.5%

Top symptoms (% of reports)

  • Cough: 46.3%
  • Headache: 38.8%
  • Fever: 32.0%
  • Muscle pain (myalgia): 29.0%
  • Sore Throat: 27.8%
More Analyses

Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity

A large number of respiratory specimens continued to be tested for seasonal influenza. There was one laboratory-confirmed influenza A case reported in Manitoba in Week 20.

As of May 22, 31.8% of residents in Manitoba have been immunized with seasonal influenza vaccines.

Influenza Cases

About cases

New cases this week

  • Influenza A: 1
  • Influenza B: 0

Total cases from September 1, 2020

  • Influenza A: 3
  • Influenza B: 2

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: 618

Reporting fever and cough: 0%

Check Trend

Physician Visits

About sentinal physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians: 2.1%

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): 133

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. **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 28430 58.7%
Southern Health-Santé Sud 6244 12.9%
Interlake-Eastern RHA 3235 6.7%
Prairie Mountain Health 3347 6.9%
Northern Health Region 7195 14.9%

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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 223,011 4,439,302 102.0% 5.0%
British Columbia 141,373 2,660,609 52.7% 5.3%
Manitoba 47,504 761,948 55.8% 6.2%
New Brunswick 2,113 329,749 42.6% 0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador 1,226 259,835 49.7% 0.5%
Northwest Territories 127 22,743 50.6% 0.6%
Nova Scotia 5,149 755,186 78.1% 0.7%
Nunavut 637 14,659 37.9% 4.3%
Ontario 518,980 14,750,653 101.8% 3.5%
Prince Edward Island 200 157,338 101.1% 0.1%
Quebec 366,394 8,985,712 106.4% 4.1%
Saskatchewan 45,310 832,104 71.1% 5.4%
Yukon 84 9,129 22.5% 0.9%
Canada 1,352,121 33,979,043 90.8% 4.0%

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 1384 59.4%
Pending 193 8.3%
Travel 22 0.9%
Unknown 731 31.4%
All Cases 2330

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 1401 60.1%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse 625 26.8%
Not identified 174 7.5%
Physician/Physician in training 79 3.4%
First Responder 51 2.2%
All Cases 2330

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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 28430 3 0 249
Northern Health 7195 0 0 66
Southern Health - Sante Sud 6244 2 0 69
Prairie Mountain Health 3347 3 0 134
Interlake-Eastern Health 3235 2 0 76

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 20, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 2281 3 0 88
Southern Health - Sante Sud 395 2 0 38
Prairie Mountain Health 216 3 0 52
Northern Health 186 2 0 34
Interlake-Eastern Health 180 1 0 14

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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