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 18 (May 2 – May 8)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on May 14, 2021
Next reporting date: May 24, 2021

COVID-19: High Activity In Week 18, there were 2,653 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 1,688 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests increased to on average 3,817 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 3,426 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 10.4%, an increase from 7.6% in the previous week. In the 2,653 cases reported this week, majority (76%) were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health and 8% 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 (4%). This week, 1965 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, an increase from 1146 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 74% of new cases reported this week. As of May 8, a total of 549,182 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered and 42.6% of residents aged 18 years and older in Manitoba have been immunized with at least one dose.		Cases About cases New cases: 2,653 Total cases: 41,957 Total VOC cases: 4,975 Recovered cases: 38,913 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: 3,817 Weekly positivity rate: 10.4% Total Tested people: 444,260 Population tested: 32.6% Specimens tested: 694,907 Positivity rate: 6.5% More Analyses Provincial testing National testing	Severity About severity Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19: Hospitalizations: 2,830 ICU admissions: 637 Deaths: 1,002 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: 1.4% Close contact to cases: 54.0% Unknown: 23.7% Pending: 20.9% Close contacts Top contact type: Household exposure More Analyses Contacts	Risk Factors About risk factors Pregnant cases: 462 Health care workers**: 2,164 Deceased Health care workers: 3 Recovered health care workers: 2,125 More Analyses Health care workers	Symptoms About symptoms Symptomatic cases: 72.3% Top symptoms (% of reports) Cough: 45.2% Headache: 38.2% Fever: 31.2% Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.6% Sore Throat: 27.1% 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 18. As of May 8, 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: 622 Reporting fever and cough: 0.8% Check Trend
Physician Visits About sentinal physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians: 0.5% Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies: 1	ED Visits About emergency room visits Average daily respiratory visits to emergency department (ED): 128 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	23812	56.8%
Southern Health-Santé Sud	5489	13.1%
Interlake-Eastern RHA	2836	6.8%
Prairie Mountain Health	2908	6.9%
Northern Health Region	6912	16.5%

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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	205,115	4,253,112	97.8%	4.8%
British Columbia	134,341	2,546,622	50.5%	5.3%
Manitoba	40,937	703,107	51.5%	5.8%
New Brunswick	1,988	310,279	40.1%	0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,127	247,762	47.4%	0.5%
Northwest Territories	99	19,708	43.9%	0.5%
Nova Scotia	3,591	653,467	67.6%	0.5%
Nunavut	553	12,917	33.4%	4.3%
Ontario	486,223	14,213,612	98.1%	3.4%
Prince Edward Island	186	147,577	94.8%	0.1%
Quebec	356,216	8,503,205	100.7%	4.2%
Saskatchewan	42,695	788,374	67.3%	5.4%
Yukon	82	9,101	22.4%	0.9%
Canada	1,273,166	32,408,919	86.6%	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	1288	59.5%
Pending	187	8.6%
Travel	22	1%
Unknown	667	30.8%
All Cases	2164

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	1284	59.3%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse	595	27.5%
Not identified	160	7.4%
Physician/Physician in training	79	3.7%
First Responder	46	2.1%
All Cases	2164

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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	23812	3	0	249
Northern Health	6912	0	0	66
Southern Health - Sante Sud	5489	2	0	66
Prairie Mountain Health	2908	3	0	134
Interlake-Eastern Health	2836	2	0	75

Table 6. COVID-19 Contact Summary in New Cases Reported in Week 18, Manitoba, 2021

Regional Health Authority	Cases	Median Contacts	Minimum Contacts	Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health	2033	3	0	67
Southern Health - Sante Sud	203	2	0	22
Prairie Mountain Health	195	3	0	53
Interlake-Eastern Health	123	3	0	75
Northern Health	99	0	0	16

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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