Alberta takes 2 Manitoba COVID patients as 329 new cases, 4 deaths reported

Manitoba announced 329 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths on Friday as yet another province stepped in to take critically ill patients to ease the strain on Manitoba's health system.

All of the deaths one man and three women arelinked to the B.1.1.7 variant, now called the alpha variant, that was first found in the U.K.

They are a man in his 40s from the Interlake-Eastern health region, a woman in her70s from the Southern Health region, a woman in her70s from the Winnipeg health region and a woman in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region.

The total number of deaths in Manitoba due toCOVID-19 is now 1,071. That includes 84 linked to more contagious variants.

The Winnipeg health region has 203 of the newest cases, the Southern Health region has 38, the Interlake-Eastern health region has 30, the Northern Health Region has 30and the Prairie Mountain Health region has 28.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 11.4 per cent provincially (down from 11.5 on Thursday) and 13 per cent in Winnipeg (down from 13.2).

WATCH |Dr. Jazz Atwal on the urgency of getting the COVID-19 vaccine:

Dr. Jazz Atwal urges Manitobans to get 1st, 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccine

3 years ago

Duration 1:20

Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer, said Friday the sooner Manitobans get both their doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the sooner life can go back to normal.

The seven-day average case count in Manitoba has declined to 306.It peaked at 482 on May 22 and has declined almost every day since.

"Our day-to-day cases are getting a bit better, but our health-care system is still struggling," said Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer, urging people to continue to abide by the current health orders.

"There are too many people in ICUs, both in Manitoba and outside of the province, struggling for their lives. Manitobans have the power to help stem the third wave. It is up to all of us to take steps to protect each other."

Alberta takes patients

A total of 106 Manitobans are receiving intensive care for COVID-19, including 65 within the province (a decrease of three) and41 outside the province: 37 in Ontario, two in Saskatchewan and for the first time,two in Alberta.

Over the past few weeks, 11 patients who had been in out-of-province ICUshave improved and since returned, including one who came back on Thursday, the province said in a news release on Friday.

However, there are two who died at out-of-province hospitals.

On Wednesday, the province announced thefirst death of a COVID-19 patient who had been transported for care outside of Manitoba a man in his 30swho had been at an Ontario hospital since May 20.

On Thursday, they announced a second. Thatpatient, a woman in her 50s, had been moved out of the province on May 23.

Yet another patient, a woman in her 30s,died in a Manitoba hospital after a failed attempt to airlift her to a hospitalin Ontario last week.

Another 221 cases involving more contagious coronavirus variants have also been identified, theprovince's data dashboardsays. The variants now account for 61 per cent of the 4,191 active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba.

An outbreak has been declared at Health Sciences CentreWRS3 in Winnipeg.

Meanwhile, a prior outbreak at the King's School in Winnipeg has now been declared over.

Heat wave relief

Due the current heat wave, a few minor amendments were made to the health orders to allow municipalities to repurpose facilities like libraries and community centres as cooling centres, where people can find relief from the temperatures outside.

It has also allowed for taps to be turned on at spray pads, outdoor swimming pools and wading pools.

Those measures are intended for vulnerable people who need to cool down and don't have other options. They are not meant to be used recreationally, Atwal said.

"If you have air conditioners, a pool or a sprinkler at home, the community pool or splash pads are not to be used as a family outing," he said.

"Restrictions on gatherings and interactions with people who do not reside at the same private residence continue to apply."

The orders are in effect until at least June 12.

Atwal said hecan only envision subtle changes, at best, to public health orders when the current ones expire.

WATCH | Full news conference on COVID-19 | June 4, 2021:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: June 4

3 years ago

Duration 38:27

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Friday, June 4, 2021.