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 13 (March 28 – April 3)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on April 9, 2021
Next reporting date: April 19, 2021

COVID-19: Decreased Activity In Week 13, there were 497 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, a decrease from 570 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests decreased to on average 1,722 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 2,053 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 4.6%, an inecrease from 4.2% in the previous week. In an examination of the 497 cases reported this week, majority (47%) were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health and 39% were reported from the Northern Health Region. The remaining cases were reported from Prairie Mountain Health Authority (9%), Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority (4%) and Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (1%). A total of 363 Variants of Concern (VOC) cases have been confirmed by screening or sequencing tests. Overall, older adults and those with underlying illnesses are at higher risk for severe outcomes as a result of COVID-19 infection. As of April 3, a total of 232,109 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered and 166,693 residents in Manitoba have been immunized with at least one dose.		Cases About cases New cases: 497 Total cases: 34,424 Recovered cases: 32,759 More Analyses Epi curve Daily Case Counts (.csv) Age and sex Health region National update
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 1,722 Weekly positivity rate: 4.6% Total Tested people: 396,086 Population tested: 29% Specimens tested: 589,637 Positivity rate: 6.3% More Analyses Provincial testing National testing	Severity About severity Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19: Hospitalizations: 2,436 ICU admissions: 467 Deaths: 946 More Analyses Severe Outcomes Age Underlying Illness	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks: 210 Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 109 Outbreaks in schools: 3 More Analyses Check trend Outbreak list
Exposure About exposure Source of infection in cases (% of total) Travel: 1.3% Close contact to cases: 52.7% Unknown: 23.1% Pending: 22.9% Close contacts Top contact type: Household exposure More Analyses Contacts	Risk Factors About risk factors Pregnant cases: 380 Health care workers**: 2,012 Deceased Health care workers: 2 Recovered health care workers: 2,004 More Analyses Health care workers	Symptoms About symptoms Symptomatic cases: 71.3% Top symptoms (% of reports) Cough: 43.8% Headache: 37.2% Fever: 29.6% Muscle pain (myalgia): 27.6% Sore Throat: 26.1% 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 13. As of April 3, 31.7% 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: 0 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: 588 Reporting fever and cough: 0% Check Trend
Physician Visits About sentinal physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians: 1.2% Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies: 3	ED Visits About emergency room visits Average daily respiratory visits to emergency department (ED): 85 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, 2020 – 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) and Percentage of VOC cases in All Cases by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Sex and Age Group, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

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

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

Health Region	Cases	Percentage
Winnipeg RHA	18722	54.4%
Southern Health-Santé Sud	4937	14.3%
Interlake-Eastern RHA	2485	7.2%
Prairie Mountain Health	2210	6.4%
Northern Health Region	6070	17.6%

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Testing

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

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

Province	Confirmed Cases	Tests Completed	Test Rate in Population (Estimated %)	Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta	150,288	3,710,225	85.3%	4.1%
British Columbia	101,954	2,196,645	43.5%	4.6%
Manitoba	34,262	592,786	43.4%	5.8%
New Brunswick	1,632	266,785	34.5%	0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,020	221,205	42.3%	0.5%
Northwest Territories	42	16,085	35.8%	0.3%
Nova Scotia	1,728	430,732	44.6%	0.4%
Nunavut	395	9,864	25.5%	4.0%
Ontario	355,549	12,462,329	86.0%	2.9%
Prince Edward Island	160	126,089	81.0%	0.1%
Quebec	313,676	7,201,569	85.2%	4.4%
Saskatchewan	34,043	669,314	57.2%	5.1%
Yukon	74	8,563	21.1%	0.9%
Canada	994,836	27,912,267	74.6%	3.6%

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, 2020 – 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, 2020 – 2021

Figure 8. Percentage of COVID-19 Cases With Underlying Illnesses, Manitoba, 2020 – 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, 2020 – 2021

Source of infection	Cases	Percentage
Close contact of known case	1198	59.5%
Pending	186	9.2%
Travel	20	1%
Unknown	608	30.2%
All Cases	2012

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

Role	Cases	Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff	1169	58.1%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse	573	28.5%
Not identified	152	7.6%
Physician/Physician in training	75	3.7%
First Responder	43	2.1%
All Cases	2012

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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 Table, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

Regional Health Authority	Active Cases	Median Contacts	Min contacts	Max contacts
Northern Health	380	0	0	25
Winnipeg Health	222	3	0	57
Prairie Mountain Health	45	2	0	19
Interlake-Eastern Health	9	0	0	8
Southern Health - Sante Sud	5	1	0	33

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Symptoms

Figure 10. Percentage of Symptoms Reported by COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

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, 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