18 new cases of highly contagious B117 coronavirus variant found in Manitoba

The number of more contagious coronavirus variant cases has nearly doubled in Manitoba.

Another 18 cases of the more contagious B117 variant originally detected in the U.K. have been identified, Dr. Brent Roussin, chief public health officer for Manitoba, said at a news conference Monday. One is in the Interlake and 17 are in Winnipeg.

He also announced 50 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Monday. No deaths were announced, leaving the death toll due to COVID-19 at 917 in Manitoba.

The test positivity rate is creeping up again. It's at 4.8 per cent in Manitoba and 3.5 per cent in Winnipeg.

Meanwhile, vaccine appointments are now open to anyone 77 and older, and First Nations people 57 and older.

"We're really in that race to get Manitobans vaccinated, but it's really going to impair our ability to vaccinate Manitobans if we start to see high test positivity rates again," Roussin said.

Outbreaks at Poseidon Care Centre in Winnipeg, Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville and Valleyview Care Centre Long Term Care Home in Brandon have been declared over.

WATCH | Coronavirus variant cases nearly double in Manitoba:

Dr. Brent Roussin on more transmissible coronavirus variants in Manitoba

4 years ago

Duration 1:04

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said Monday the province will be aggressive with its case and contact tracing as more cases of coronavirus variants of concern are discovered.

There have been 41 total cases of variants of concern found so far in Manitoba; 19 are active cases.

There are eight linked to travel, while nine can't be linked to travel or other cases, Roussin said.

"We need to be quite cautious moving forward, especially with our reopening plans," he said.

"We are at risk of seeing that increased transmission."

WATCH | Possible coronavirus variant exposure on Winnipeg Transit bus:

Dr. Brent Roussin on possible coronavirus variant exposure on Winnipeg Transit bus

4 years ago

Duration 0:33

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said Monday he couldn't provide more detail on a possible public exposure to a highly transmissible coronavirus variant, but said it's likely there will be more warnings of possible exposures in the future.

On Sunday, the province reported a possible exposure to a variant of concern on a Winnipeg Transit bus on Route 16, on March 4 and 5 between 11:09 a.m. and noon.

The infected person rode from Osborne Street and River Avenue to Manitoba Avenue and Ellington Street.

In other areas where variants have gotten a foothold, cases shot up quickly, Roussin said, urging Manitobans to stick to the fundamentals — washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, physical distancing and wearing a mask in public places.

Boosting contact tracing toolkit

Roussin said as the province has gradually reopened in recent weeks, it's become more imperative to ramp up other measures. 

Last week, he said all COVID-19 test samples dating back to early February, will now be screened for the B117 variant and the B1351 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa.

Contact investigations are also being bolstered. Roussin suggested potential exposures at public places could lead to a broader group of people being forced to isolate for two weeks.

"People who are at a restaurant and potentially exposed, especially to a variant of concern, well, they're going to be identified as contacts and they and their household are going to have to self-isolate for at least 14 days," he said.

The same goes for gyms and youth sports, he said.

Restaurants are back operating at 50 per cent under the new rules, which recently allowed most businesses to reopen at limited capacities, but indoor dining is only allowed among members of the same household, and restaurants are expected to verify this by asking patrons to show their licence or other identification with address information.

Manitobans can, however, dine at outdoor restaurant patios with people from outside their homes.

Roussin getting AstraZeneca

More than 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given out in Manitoba so far, and as that number increases, fewer people will suffer severe consequences due to the virus or end up in hospital, he said.

WATCH | Manitoba 'weeks and weeks away' from having significant number of most vulnerable immunized:

Dr. Brent Roussin says province is still 'weeks and weeks away' from having a significant proportion of most vulnerable Manitobans immunized

4 years ago

Duration 1:08

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said the province must continue to be cautious as Manitobans are immunized against COVID-19, because a high test positivity rate could make it more difficult to have large-scale immunization centres.

Roussin was asked whether he has concerns about the safety of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine on Friday.

Denmark, Iceland, and Norway are among some European countries that have suspended use of the vaccine, citing reports of blood clots in some who received it.

"Looking at that data, it's very limited to support any concerning findings," Roussin said.

On Monday, Germany and France also hit pause, pending a review.

Canada, Poland, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and many other countries continue to use AstraZeneca, citing a lack of evidence of blood clots. The manufacturer just completed a review of 17 million people who have received the vaccine and found no evidence of heightened risk of blood clots.

Roussin said he is scheduled to get his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday. 

"I don't have any safety concerns," he said. "In my opinion, this is a safe vaccine."

WATCH | Full news conference on COVID-19 | March 15, 2021:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: March 15

4 years ago

Duration 27:12

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Monday, March 15, 2021.