Manitoba public health reported 400 new cases of COVID -19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 9.9 percent. Of the new cases 256 are in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions including eight in Northern health where there are 373 active cases.  Of the total 72,283 confirmed cases in the province 2622 are active, 68,293 people have recovered and 91 are in hospital with 24 in intensive care. One new case of the Omicron variant has been confirmed for a total of 18. They also announced students will return to school on January 10^th instead of the 6^th to allow more time to assess the risk of the Omicron variant and to allow more time to get rapid test kits into schools.

Saskatchewan health reported 105 new cases bringing the seven day average of new cases to 68.  Of the total 82,442 confirmed cases 627 are active, 80,871 people have recovered and 91 are in hospital.  Far Northeast two reported one new case which is the only case reported as active.  The province also reports 27 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant and 69 probable cases detected through testing.