Cluster of COVID-19 cases in Brandon surges to 64 as demand for testing soars

A cluster of COVID-19 cases in Brandon, Man., has grown to 64, as Manitoba public health officials rush to increase testing capacity in the southwestern Manitoba city.

Most of the cases in the area are linked to close contact with someone else who hasCOVID-19, Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at a news conference on Monday. However, people in the community should be careful.

"We are seeing early signs of community transmission," Roussin said. "Everywhere in Manitoba should be taking caution, but that area should be taking extra caution."

There are 16 new cases of the novel coronavirus as of Monday morning, Roussin announced.

Of those new cases, 11 are in the Prairie Mountain Health region, which includes Brandon, and five are in the Southern Health region.

There are 22 people who work at the Maple Leaf Foods pork processing facility in Brandon who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus; some of them are part of the cluster.

Cluster of COVID-19 cases

4 years ago

Duration 2:17

A cluster of COVID-19 cases in Brandon, Man., has grown to 64, as Manitoba public health officials rush to increase testing capacity in the southwestern Manitoba city.

There are currently 196 active cases in the province,and 354 people have recovered from the virus.

It's the highest number of active cases Manitoba has had since the pandemic began, according to the talliesin the province's daily bulletins and on itsonline coronavirus statistics dashboard.

The total number of confirmed and probable positive cases of COVID-19 is now 558.

Brandon testing demand surges

Prairie Mountain Health officialswarnpeople in Brandon to expect a wait if they go to get testedforCOVID-19, as demand for tests surges at the city's only testing site.

The community testing site at Brandon'sTown Centre Parkade is experiencing "very high volumes" of people showing up for testing, a public service announcement said Monday.

"We are asking individuals who are not symptomatic or who have not been directed by Public Health or Occupational Health to be tested, to please refrain from coming to the Brandon test site today,"the announcement said.

"Those who arrive for testing should be prepared for lineups and to wait."

A second sitein Brandon, at the Keystone Centre, will open on Wednesday, according to a Prairie Mountain Health announcement issued later on Monday afternoon.

People can choose the site they prefer to go to, but they may be re-directed in order to help balance lineups and shorten wait times, the announcement said.

Friesensaid he'd heard the lineup Monday morning was "some blocks long."

"That's too long," he said.

That testing site is extending its hours on Mondayand there are plans to open it seven days a week.

According to Prairie Mountain Health, both of the Brandon testing sites will be open:

• Monday to Thursday from8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

"We have to have that ability to flex up when we need it, and right now, Brandon needs it,"Friesensaid.

An additional 1,364 lab tests were done on Sunday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 103,782.

More restrictions could come in response to the cluster in Brandon, but not necessarily for everybody, Roussin said.

Under a"surgical approach to restrictions," areas with clusters could face more restrictions, while others that have lower numbers of cases would not, he said.

Roussin didn't provide a timeline for region-specific pandemic restrictions, becausemost cases have a known transmission chain at this time, he said.

Friesenpromisedmore geographic detail about COVID-19 cases will be provided by the end of the week.

WATCH | Full news conference on COVID-19 | August 10, 2020:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: August 10

4 years ago

Duration 42:13

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Monday, August 10, 2020.