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 9 (February 28 – March 6)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00am on March 12, 2021
Next reporting date: March 22, 2021

COVID-19: Decreasing Activity In Week 9, there were 367 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, a decrease from 473 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests decreased to on average 1,714 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 1,824 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 3.4%, a decrease from 4.0% in the previous week. In an examination of the 367 cases reported this week, majority (52%) were reported from the Northern Health Region and 36% were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health. The remaining cases were reported from Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority (7%), Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (3%) and Prairie Mountain Health Authority (1%). Overall, older adults and those with underlying illnesses are at higher risk for severe outcomes as a result of COVID-19 infection. As of March 6, a total of 89,728 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administered to the residents of Manitoba.		Cases About cases New cases: 367 Total cases: 32,221 Recovered cases: 30,808 More Analyses Epi curve Daily Case Counts (.csv) Age and sex Health region National update
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 1,714 Weekly positivity rate: 3.4% Total Tested people: 372,123 Population tested: 27.3% Specimens tested: 537,372 Positivity rate: 6.4% More Analyses Provincial testing National testing	Severity About severity Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19: Hospitalizations: 2,289 ICU admissions: 432 Deaths: 912 More Analyses Severe Outcomes Age Underlying Illness	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks: 194 Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 102 Outbreaks in schools: 2 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: 23.3% Pending: 22.6% Close contacts Top contact type: Household exposure More Analyses Contacts	Risk Factors About risk factors Pregnant cases: 352 Health care workers**: 1,956 Deceased Health care workers: 2 Recovered health care workers: 1,950 More Analyses Health care workers	Symptoms About symptoms Symptomatic cases: 71.9% Top symptoms (% of reports) Cough: 43.9% Headache: 37.1% Fever: 29.5% Muscle pain (myalgia): 27.9% Sore Throat: 26.0% 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 9. As of March 6, 31.6% 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: 598 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): 86 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. Cases of COVID-19 by Sex and Age Group, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

Figure 3. 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	17825	55.3%
Southern Health-Santé Sud	4800	14.9%
Interlake-Eastern RHA	2437	7.6%
Prairie Mountain Health	2076	6.4%
Northern Health Region	5083	15.8%

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Testing

Figure 4. 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	135,196	3,434,748	78.9%	3.9%
British Columbia	83,107	1,959,060	38.8%	4.2%
Manitoba	32,099	539,166	39.5%	6.0%
New Brunswick	1,447	240,032	31.0%	0.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,003	200,703	38.4%	0.5%
Northwest Territories	42	14,790	32.9%	0.3%
Nova Scotia	1,651	356,686	36.9%	0.5%
Nunavut	373	8,819	22.8%	4.2%
Ontario	306,007	11,082,737	76.5%	2.8%
Prince Edward Island	139	110,916	71.3%	0.1%
Quebec	291,175	6,398,259	75.7%	4.6%
Saskatchewan	29,430	584,905	49.9%	5.0%
Yukon	72	8,216	20.2%	0.9%
Canada	881,754	24,939,113	66.7%	3.5%

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

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Severity

Figure 5. 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 6. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, 2020 – 2021

Figure 7. 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	1165	59.6%
Pending	185	9.5%
Travel	18	0.9%
Unknown	588	30.1%
All Cases	1956

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

Role	Cases	Percentage
Allied Health, Health Professionals, and Support Staff	1139	58.2%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse	554	28.3%
Not identified	152	7.8%
Physician/Physician in training	72	3.7%
First Responder	39	2%
All Cases	1956

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Outbreaks

Figure 8. 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	287	0.0	0	15
Winnipeg Health	171	1.0	0	35
Interlake-Eastern Health	22	0.0	0	5
Southern Health - Sante Sud	14	2.0	0	8
Prairie Mountain Health	6	1.5	0	12

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Symptoms

Figure 9. 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 10. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2021

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Physician Visits

Figure 11. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2021

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ED Visits

Figure 12. 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