Manitoba Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal announced 90 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 5.7 percent.  He also report two additional deaths both in the Winnipeg region.  Atwall noted three confirmed cases of a variant of concern related to international travel. He explained this is a variant first identified in the United Kingdom and brings the total number of variants of concern in Manitoba to four adding all three cases have recovered and have completed their self-isolation requirements. The number of contacts for the cases range from four to twenty-four.  He also notes these are not connected at all to First Nations communities and there is no evidence of further spread in Manitoba related to the variants.

Of the 90 new COVID cases reported 50 are in the Northern and 35 in the Winnipeg health region with single digits in other regions.  Of the total 31,235 cases reported 1169 are considered active, 29,187 individuals have recovered and 213 are in hospital with 27 in intensive care.