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 4 (January 24 – January 30)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 4:00am on February 5, 2021
Next reporting date: February 15, 2021

COVID-19: High Activity In Week 4, there were 835 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba, a decrease from 1,219 in the previous week. The volume of lab tests decreased to on average 1,740 people tested for COVID-19 per day compared to 1,837 in the previous week, and the positivity rate of lab tests was 7.7%, a decrease from 10.3% in the previous week. In an examination of the 835 cases reported this week, majority (43%) were reported from the Northern Health Region and 30% were reported from the Winnipeg Regional Health. The remaining cases were reported from Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (12%), Prairie Mountain Health Authority (10%) and Southern Health - Santé Sud Regional Health Authority (5%). Overall, older adults and those with underlying illnesses are at higher risk for severe outcomes as a result of COVID-19 infection. As of January 30, a total of 40,785 doses of COVID19 vaccines have been administrated to the residents of Manitoba.		Cases About cases New cases: 835 Total cases: 29,567 Recovered cases: 25,859 More Analyses Epi curve Daily Case Counts (.csv) Age and sex Health region National update
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 1,740 Weekly positivity rate: 7.7% Total Tested people: 343,581 Population tested: 25.2% Specimens tested: 477,224 Positivity rate: 6.6% More Analyses Provincial testing National testing	Severity About severity Severe outcomes associated with COVID-19: Hospitalizations: 2,057 ICU admissions: 389 Deaths: 837 More Analyses Severe Outcomes Age Underlying Illness	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks: 177 Outbreaks in long-term care facilities: 95 Outbreaks in schools: 3 More Analyses Check trend Outbreak list
Exposure About exposure Source of infection in cases (% of total) Travel: 1.2% Close contact to cases: 51.9% Unknown: 23.3% Pending: 23.5% Close contacts Top contact type: Household exposure More Analyses Contacts	Risk Factors About risk factors Pregnant cases: 311 Health care workers**: 1875 Deceased Health care workers: 2 Recovered health care workers: 1854 More Analyses Health care workers	Symptoms About symptoms Symptomatic cases: 71.5% Top symptoms (% of reports) Cough: 44.5% Headache: 37.7% Fever: 30.3% Muscle pain (myalgia): 28.8% Sore Throat: 26.5% 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 4. As of January 30, 31.1% 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: 596 Reporting fever and cough: 0% 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): 82 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	16797	56.8%
Southern Health-Santé Sud	4635	15.7%
Interlake-Eastern RHA	2251	7.6%
Prairie Mountain Health	1979	6.7%
Northern Health Region	3905	13.2%

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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	Tested Population (Estimated %)	Positivity Rate (Estimated %)
Alberta	123,364	3,118,211	71.7%	4.0%
British Columbia	66,779	1,044,931	20.7%	6.4%
Manitoba	29,280	452,461	33.2%	6.5%
New Brunswick	1,218	138,569	17.9%	0.9%
Newfoundland and Labrador	408	79,289	15.2%	0.5%
Northwest Territories	31	9,064	20.2%	0.3%
Nova Scotia	1,577	203,766	21.1%	0.8%
Nunavut	283	7,530	19.5%	3.8%
Ontario	264,300	9,190,431	63.5%	2.9%
Prince Edward Island	111	90,086	57.9%	0.1%
Quebec	259,993	2,695,925	31.9%	9.6%
Saskatchewan	23,366	333,534	28.5%	7.0%
Yukon	70	6,273	15.5%	1.1%
Canada	770,793	17,370,146	46.4%	4.4%

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	1119	59.7%
Pending	183	9.8%
Travel	13	0.7%
Unknown	560	29.9%
All Cases	1875

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

Role	Cases	Percentage
Allied Health and Support Staff	1087	58%
Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse	534	28.5%
Not identified	144	7.7%
Physician/Physician in training	71	3.8%
First Responder	39	2.1%
All Cases	1875

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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	1647	0	0	47
Winnipeg Health	542	0	0	62
Interlake-Eastern Health	405	0	0	19
Southern Health - Sante Sud	159	0	0	10
Prairie Mountain Health	115	0	0	28

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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