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 19 (May 9 – May 15)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00 am on May 21, 2021
Next reporting date: May 31, 2021

COVID-19: High Activity In Week 19, there were 3,235 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, an increase from 2,653 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests increased to on average 3,871 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 3,817 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 12.3%, an increase from 10.4% in the previous week. In the 3,235 cases reported this week, majority (72%) were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health and 11% 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 (7%) and Northern Health Region (3%). This week, 2,461 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) have been reported, an increase from 1,965 in the previous week. Additionally, cases of VOCs accounted for 76% of new cases reported this week. As of May 15, a total of 641,416 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered and 52.3% of residents aged 18 years and older in Manitoba have been immunized with at least one dose.		Cases About cases New cases: 3,235 Total cases: 45,190 Total VOC cases: 7,288 Recovered cases: 41,558 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: 3,871 Weekly positivity rate: 12.3% Total Tested people: 456,830 Population tested: 33.5% Specimens tested: 722,006 Positivity rate: 6.7% More Analyses Provincial testing National testing	Severity About severity Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19: Hospitalizations: 3,036 ICU admissions: 714 Deaths: 1,021 More Analyses Severe Outcomes Age Underlying Illness	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks: 225 Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 116 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: 54.6% Unknown: 24.0% Pending: 19.9% Close contacts Top contact type: Household exposure More Analyses Contacts	Risk Factors About risk factors Pregnant cases: 509 Health care workers**: 2,255 Deceased Health care workers: 3 Recovered health care workers: 2,197 More Analyses Health care workers	Symptoms About symptoms Symptomatic cases: 73.1% Top symptoms (% of reports) Cough: 45.8% Headache: 38.5% Fever: 31.6% Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.8% Sore Throat: 27.5% More Analyses All symptoms
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity A large number of respiratory specimens continued to be tested for seasonal influenza. There was one laboratory-confirmed influenza B case reported in Manitoba in Week 19. As of May 15, 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: 1 Total cases from September 1, 2020 Influenza A: 2 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: 602 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): 124 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	26140	57.8%
Southern Health-Santé Sud	5845	12.9%
Interlake-Eastern RHA	3060	6.8%
Prairie Mountain Health	3131	6.9%
Northern Health Region	7014	15.5%

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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	216,626	4,364,960	100.3%	5.0%
British Columbia	138,304	2,607,123	51.7%	5.3%
Manitoba	44,187	734,904	53.9%	6.0%
New Brunswick	2,045	319,739	41.3%	0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,179	253,188	48.4%	0.5%
Northwest Territories	121	21,427	47.7%	0.6%
Nova Scotia	4,524	700,729	72.5%	0.6%
Nunavut	618	13,811	35.7%	4.5%
Ontario	504,533	14,499,910	100.1%	3.5%
Prince Edward Island	190	152,547	98.0%	0.1%
Quebec	361,820	8,771,778	103.8%	4.1%
Saskatchewan	44,168	811,303	69.3%	5.4%
Yukon	84	9,129	22.5%	0.9%
Canada	1,318,412	33,260,624	88.9%	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	1336	59.2%
Pending	191	8.5%
Travel	22	1%
Unknown	706	31.3%
All Cases	2255

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	1353	60%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse	607	26.9%
Not identified	167	7.4%
Physician/Physician in training	79	3.5%
First Responder	49	2.2%
All Cases	2255

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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	26140	3	0	249
Northern Health	7014	0	0	66
Southern Health - Sante Sud	5845	2	0	69
Prairie Mountain Health	3131	3	0	134
Interlake-Eastern Health	3060	2	0	76

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

Regional Health Authority	Cases	Median Contacts	Minimum Contacts	Maximum Contacts
Winnipeg Health	2323	3	0	82
Southern Health - Sante Sud	356	3	0	69
Interlake-Eastern Health	227	2	0	76
Prairie Mountain Health	223	3	0	48
Northern Health	106	0	0	29

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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