16 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, including 14 in Winnipeg

There are 16new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Wednesday, according to a provincial press release.

Thatbrings the total number of active cases in the province to 404, while 945 people have recovered.

Of the new cases, 14 are in Winnipeg, one isin the Prairie Mountain Health region and one is in the Southern Health region.

Public health offiicals sayseveral of the Winnipeg cases are close contacts of known cases and are not linked to any current outbreaks.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate a rolling average of theteststhat come backpositive is 1.3 per cent.

In addition, Red River College confirmed late Wednesday in an email to staff, faculty and a students thata worker at the Innovation Centre construction site tested positive for COVID-19.

Employees who regularly work at the construction site were sent them home to self-isolate and contact officials at Health Links. The construction site was also immediately closed for deep cleaning and all workers on site were sent home, the email says.

The Northern Health region confirmed Wednesday a health-care worker at the Northern Lights Manor personal care home in Flin Flon, Man. tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

"The worker immediately began self-isolating and is recovering at home.It has been confirmed that the worker did not work any shifts during the infectious period," said a spokesperson for the health region.

Visits are suspended at the personal care home, although the risk to residents and staff are "extremely low," the spokesperson said.

Possible exposure over four days at Winnipeg Tim Hortons

Officials are also warning of a possible exposure to COVID-19 that may have occurred at a Winnipeg Tim Hortons earlier this month.

The exposure took placeat the locationon the corner of Portage Avenue at Westwood Drive between Sept. 2 and 5 at the following times, according to the province:

• Sept. 2between 2:35 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Sept. 3 between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m.
• Sept. 4 between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Sept. 5 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The risk of anyone contracting the virus is low, but officials are asking anyone who attended the spotto be aware and get tested if they develop symptoms.

Also on Wednesday, Red River Co-op announced an employee at a gas bar in Stonewall, Man., has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement on its website, the company said the affected worker's last shift was on Sept. 3, six days before the positive test was confirmed. It said employees who may have had direct contact have been told to seek advice through Health Links.

Red River Co-op said Manitoba Public Health determined there was no need to shut down the gas bar, located at 491 Fourth St. E., although the company did close ittemporarily for deep cleaning and sanitization.

One of Brandon's two COVID-19 testing sites the location atKeystone Centrewill close permanently this weekend. Thosewho need to be tested are asked to go to the Brandon Town Centre site after Saturday.

On Tuesday, 653 tests were completed, bringing the total number of lab tests completed since early February to 149,188.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the province's chief public health officer, announced 11 new caseson Tuesday,as well as a growing numbers of cases stemming from outbreaks at personal care homes and health-care centres in the province.

It also came to light that a COVID-19outbreak in March at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre led to the deaths oftwo patients.

The deathswererevealed inan epidemiology reportthat was completed in July but made public last weeknearly five months after the outbreak.

On Wednesday,Canada had 133,897confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases. Provinces and territories listed 117,701of those as recovered or resolved.

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