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 34 (August 22 – August 28)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on September 3, 2021
Next reporting date: September 13, 2021

COVID-19: Decreased Activity

In Week 34, there were 392 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 233 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests increased to on average 1,895 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 1,736 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 3.1%, an increase from 2.2% in the previous week.

In the 392 cases reported this week, 36% were reported from Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority and 30% were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The remaining cases were reported from Northern Health Region (16%), Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (11%), and Prairie Mountain Health Authority (7%).

This week, 314 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, an increase from 145 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 80% of new cases reported this week.

In all Manitoba residents aged 12 years and older, 82.8% of residents have been partially vaccinated and 75.7% have been fully vaccinated. This week, the majority of new cases, severe cases among them and VOC cases were unvaccinated. No fully vaccinated individuals were admitted to ICU this week.

Cases

About cases

  • New cases: 392
  • Total cases: 58,652
  • Total VOC cases: 17,468
  • Recovered cases: 57,157
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 1,895
  • Weekly positivity rate: 3.1%

Total

  • Tested people: 536,964
  • Population tested: 39.4%
  • Specimens tested: 921,942
  • Positivity rate: 6.8%
More Analyses

Severity

About severity

Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19:

  • Hospitalizations: 4,053
    • ICU admissions3: 920
  • Deaths: 1,192
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks: 243

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

Exposure

About exposure

Source of infection in cases (% of total)

  • Travel: 1.4%
  • Close contact to cases: 55.9%
  • Unknown: 24.9%
  • Pending: 17.7%

Top five outbreak/cluster/special investigation settings4

  • Workplace: 36.2%
  • Industrial setting: 17.6%
  • Daycare: 10.3%
  • Acute care setting: 7.8%
  • School: 7.7%
More Analyses

Transmission and Acquisition

About transmission and acquisition

Top five transmission settings in all cases5

  • Household: 65.6%
  • Social gathering: 13.9%
  • Workplace: 12.5%
  • Transportation: 5.2%
  • Retail: 3.7%

Top five acquisition settings in cases with unknown source of infection6

  • Household: 50.5%
  • Workplace: 32.6%
  • Retail: 18.7%
  • Social gathering: 15.0%
  • Transportation: 6.7%
More Analyses

Symptoms

About symptoms

Symptomatic cases: 73.5%

Top symptoms (% of reports)

  • Cough: 46.2%
  • Headache: 38.1%
  • Fever: 32.0%
  • Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.2%
  • Sore Throat: 27.5%
More Analyses

Risk Factors

About risk factors

  • Pregnant cases: 724
  • Health care workers7: 2,623
  • Deceased health care workers: 4
  • Recovered health care workers: 2,616
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 34.

As of August 28, 31.5% 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: 547

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): 100

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 23, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Note. Deaths due to COVID-19 were aligned by week of death date.
Back

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 23, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Back

Figure 3. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, March 1, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Back

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

Back

Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Health Region Cases Percentage
Winnipeg RHA 34235 58.4%
Southern Health-Santé Sud 7930 13.5%
Interlake-Eastern RHA 4329 7.4%
Prairie Mountain Health 4068 6.9%
Northern Health Region 8090 13.8%
Back

Figure 5. Vaccination Status in New Cases 12+, non-ICU Hospital Admissions, ICU Admissions, Deaths, and VOCs, Manitoba, August 22, 2021 – August 28, 2021

Note. Unprotected Case: Individuals vaccinated 0–13 days following the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Partially Vaccinated Case: Individuals vaccinated >=14 days following the first dose of a 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine if only one dose was received and 0-13 days following the second dose if two doses were received. Fully Vaccinated Case: Individuals vaccinated >=14 days following the second dose of a 2-dose series or first dose of a 1-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Back

Testing

Figure 6. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Back

Table 2. Cumulative National Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Province/Territory, Canada, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Province Confirmed Cases Tests Completed Test Rate in Population (Estimated %) Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta 248,954 5,051,290 116.1% 4.9%
British Columbia 163,560 3,374,186 66.9% 4.8%
Manitoba 58,506 964,490 70.7% 6.1%
New Brunswick 2,721 416,745 53.9% 0.7%
Newfoundland and Labrador 1,469 319,698 61.1% 0.5%
Northwest Territories 395 27,598 61.5% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 5,999 1,104,250 114.2% 0.5%
Nunavut 657 18,960 49.0% 3.5%
Ontario 562,756 16,975,727 117.2% 3.3%
Prince Edward Island 230 184,348 118.4% 0.1%
Quebec 387,230 10,780,102 127.6% 3.6%
Saskatchewan 53,262 1,008,934 86.2% 5.3%
Yukon 684 9,129 22.5% 7.5%
Canada 1,486,436 40,235,533 107.6% 3.7%

Note. National testing data are collected daily from the national Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Outbreak update webpage.

Back

Severity

Figure 7. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 23, 2020 – August 28, 2021

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

Figure 8. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Figure 9. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 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

Back

Risk Factors

Table 3. Source of Infection in Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Source of Infection Cases Percentage
Close contact of known case 1528 58.3%
Pending 201 7.7%
Travel 29 1.1%
Unknown 865 33%
All Cases 2623

Table 4. Roles of Health Care Workers with Non-missing Information, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Role Cases Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff 1603 61.1%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse 671 25.6%
Not identified 204 7.8%
Physician/Physician in training 89 3.4%
First Responder 56 2.1%
All Cases 2623

Back

Outbreaks

Figure 10. Weekly Respiratory and COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – 2021

Back

Contacts

Table 5. COVID-19 Contact Summary in All Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health 34235 3 0 249
Northern Health 8090 1 0 121
Southern Health - Sante Sud 7930 2 0 69
Interlake-Eastern Health 4329 2 0 76
Prairie Mountain Health 4068 3 0 134

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 34, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority Cases Median Contacts Minimum Contacts Maximum Contacts
Southern Health - Sante Sud 141 3.0 0 17
Winnipeg Health 117 3.0 0 28
Northern Health 62 0.0 0 20
Interlake-Eastern Health 42 0.5 0 14
Prairie Mountain Health 30 4.5 0 48

Back

Figure 11. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Top-five Cluster/Outbreak/Special Investigation Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – August 28, 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

Back

Figure 12. Percentage of Total COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Transmission Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – August 28, 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

Back

Figure 13. Percentage of Community-transmitted COVID-19 Cases Exposed to Top-five Acquisition Settings, Manitoba, January 24, 2021 – August 28, 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

Back

Symptoms

Figure 14. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, March 13, 2020 – August 28, 2021

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

Back

FluWatchers

Figure 15. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

Back

Physician Visits

Figure 16. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2021

Back

ED Visits

Figure 17. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Manitoba, 2018 – 2021

Back


Epidemiology and Surveillance

epiCOVID@gov.mb.ca

Other Epidemiology and Surveillance reports

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