Manitoba public health reported 228 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 7.2 percent.  They also reported two additional deaths both in the Northern health region being a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s. Of the new cases 177 are in Winnipeg with much lower numbers in other regions including 11 in Northern health.  Of the total 38,439 reported cases 2263 are active and 35,203 individuals have recovered.  The total number of variants of concern cases is now 19 hundred of which 754 are active with a total of 49 reported in the Northern health region.

Meanwhile Saskatchewan public health reported 205 new cases this afternoon bringing the seven day average of new cases to 239.  They also reported one new death in the North West zone.  Of the new cases 73 were in Regina, 32 in Saskatoon and South East 24 with lower numbers in other zones including one in Far North East.  Of the total 40,824 reported cases 2408 are considered active and 37,929 people have recovered.  As of Wednesday 6572 variants of concern have been identified.  Effective tomorrow eligibility in the provincial age based immunization program moves to age 40.