2 more deaths, 153 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Manitoba on Saturday

Manitoba announced153new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, along withtwo more deathsrelated to the illness.

That brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 50.

The latest deaths, both women in their 70s,involve previously announced cases of the virus, the province said in a news release Saturday. One of those cases waslinked to an outbreak at Misericordia Place personal care home in Winnipeg.

On Saturday afternoon, a COVID-19-related death was reported by the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre, a Jewish care home in Winnipeg where an outbreak wasdeclared Friday.

"Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of this resident," CEOLaurie Cerqueti saidin a letter to families.

A spokesperson from the provincecouldn't confirmwhether that death was among thetwo reported by the province earlier in the day.

Record number of hospitalizations

Of the new cases announced Saturday, 91 are in the Winnipeg health region and 24 are in the Southern Health region. The Northern and Interlake-Eastern health regions each reported 15 new cases, andanother eight are in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

The new cases bring the total in Manitoba since the start of the pandemic to 4,088. The province listed 2,116 people as recovered on Saturday, with 1,922 cases considered active. The province has recently said the number of active cases may be skewed because of a data entry backlog.

As of Saturday, there are 65 Manitobans in hospital with the illness,setting a new record in the province. That includes 10 people in intensive care.

Those numbers jumped from 51 hospitalizations, including eight in intensive care, on Friday, when163 new cases of COVID-19 were announced.

An outbreak was also declared in a third unit of St. Boniface HospitalFriday, as more people at the Winnipeg hospital tested positive for COVID-19, according to an internal memo.

Last week, outbreaks were declared in St. Boniface's E5 and E6 medical units. As of Wednesday, 11 patients and five staff had tested positive.

Meanwhile, two people have tested positive for COVID-19 at College Louis Riel, according to a letter to parents on Friday.

One person was at the school on Oct. 16, and the other was there on Oct. 19. Both may have been infectious at the time.

Four cohorts are shifting to remote learning.

Public health officials are identifying close contacts and they were being advised to self-isolate and possibly be tested.

Victoria General moves to 'red' level

The province also announced Saturday thatVictoria General Hospital in Winnipeg is moving to thered, or "critical," level on the colour-coded pandemic response system after outbreaks in the hospital's5N and 5S units were reportedThursday.

An outbreak was also declared Saturday at a provincial correctional facility.The Agassiz Youth Centre in Portage la Prairie has also been elevated to the critical level.

The City of Winnipegadvised Saturday ofa possible COVID-19 exposure onaRoute 11 bus last Wednesday.

The passenger rode on the bus between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.,boarding at Bell MTS Place on Portage Avenueand exiting at the City Hall stop,according to a news release.

The city says buses are cleaned with hospital-grade sanitizer once every 48 hours and masks are mandatory on board.

Single-use masks are available at Winnipeg Transit customer service centres for those who don't have their own.

The province said labdata, including daily and total testing numbersand the five-day test positivity rate, wasn't availableSaturday because of scheduled systems upgrades. That data is expected to be available Sunday,the province says.

More possible exposures

• Margaret Barbour Collegiate in The Pas on Oct. 14 and 16.
• Scotiabank Otineka Mall in Opaskwayak from Oct. 13 to 15.
• Scott Bateman Middle School in The Pas on Oct. 16.
• Big Way Foods in Shoal Lake from Oct. 13 to 16.
• Parkside Junior High School in Altona on Oct. 16.
• Yellowquill School in Portage la Prairie on Oct. 9.
• Governor Semple School in Winnipeg on Oct. 14.
• Kidz Korner Infant Childcare in Winnipeg on Oct. 15.
• Tuxedo Park School in Winnipeg on Oct. 14 and 15.
• Division scolaire franco-manitobaine School Bus 80 in Winnipegon Oct. 13 and 14.
• Grant Park High School in Winnipeg on Oct. 13.
• O.K. Before & After School Child Care Centre at Constable EdwardFinney School in Winnipeg from Oct. 13 to 15.

More details about these possible exposures can be accessed by visiting the page for flights and events with confirmed COVID-19 cases on the province's website and clicking on each region.