3 COVID-19 deaths, 29 fewer hospitalizations in Manitoba on Friday

Another three people have died due to COVID-19 in Manitoba and there are 29 fewer cases in hospitals on Friday, the provincial government says.

The three deaths announced Friday were all in the Winnipeg health region a woman in her 70s and two men, one in his60s and the other in his 80s.

Health officials also released information about eight deaths Thursday, all from the Winnipeg region: five women in their 80s, a man in his 80s, a woman in her 70s and a woman in her 60s linked to an outbreak atHealth Sciences Centre Unit GA4.

A total of 707 COVID-19 patients are now in Manitobahospitals.

The number of patients with the illness in intensive care units dropped two to 52. The total number of patients in Manitoba's ICUs, including those who don't have COVID-19,remained at 108 Friday.

Manitoba's five-day test-positivity rate dropped to 26.8 per cent from 27.1 per cent on Thursday.

An additional 623 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by PCR testing, although the number of cases in the province is much higher, as the province restricts access to PCR testing and does not track rapid test results.

There are currently 17,423 cases listed as active, although the actualnumber of active casesis also likely much higher than reported.

Labs completed another 2,228 tests on Thursday.

Manitoba's pandemic death toll now stands at 1,585.

As of Friday, 57 per cent of kids in Manitoba age five to 11 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Among all eligible Manitobans, 85.8 per cent have at least one dose, 80 per cent have twodoses, and 41.1 per cent have received a booster shot.

Outbreaks declared

Health officials have declared outbreaksat:

• St. Boniface HospitalUnit E4GM inWinnipeg.
• SourisHealth Centre in Souris.

Outbreaks have been declared over at:

• St. Boniface HospitalUnit B5in Winnipeg.
• River Park Gardensin Winnipeg.
• Vista Park LodgeinWinnipeg.
• Health Sciences Centre PX3in Winnipeg.
• Misericordia Health Centre Unit C5in Winnipeg.
• Deer Lodge CentreLodge 6 Eastin Winnipeg.
• Brandon Regional Health Centre Unit A3in Brandon.
• Sandy Lake Personal Care Homein Sandy Lake.
• Rideau Park Personal Care Home in Brandon.