3 more deaths, 19 more COVID-19 hospitalizations in Manitoba Tuesday

The number of people in Manitoba hospitals due to COVID-19 rose by 19, to a total of 620, and three more people have died from the illness, according to Tuesday's update on the province's online dashboard.

The number of patients in intensivecare units with COVID-19 rose by one on Tuesdayto48.

The total number of all patients in ICUsboth those withCOVID-19 and those being treated for non-COVID-related issues dropped to102, down by five from Monday's number.

At a news conference last week, Health Minister Audrey Gordonsaid the province's maximumICU capacitywas 116, while the pre-pandemic baseline capacity was 72.

Another 847 cases were confirmed by PCR tests on Tuesday, bringing the province's official total since the start of the pandemic to 111,432, with 40,805 active cases reported.

However, the numbers for new and active cases areconsideredsignificantundercounts,as most cases are currentlygoing unreported because PCR testing is limited. Cases confirmed at home by rapid tests are not included in the province's official totals.

Of those new cases, 454 are in the Winnipeg Health region, 132 are in Prairie Mountain, 128 are in the Northern Health region, 78 are in Southern Health, 55 are in Interlake-Eastern.

Manitoba's five-day test-positivity rate dipped slightly to 34.2 per cent, from 34.5 per cent on Monday.

On Monday, labs completed 2,623 PCR tests.

The three deaths reported Tuesday bringthe province's death toll to1,466.

Schools reported 745 student cases and 353 staff cases during the 14-day period ending Jan. 16. That's down from 1,084 student and 398 staff cases in the previous 14-day period ending Jan. 11, the last timethe province updated school cases.

As of Sunday, there had been a total 4,980 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Manitoba schools since Sept. 7, 2021, including 3,752 students and 1,228 staff.

Students returned to class after a one-week period of remote learning for all schools following the winter holiday break.