COVID and flu-related deaths, hospitalizations drop in Manitoba during 1st week of January

COVID-19 and influenza activitydropped in Manitoba during the first week of January, according to the province'slatest respiratory virus surveillance report.

COVID-related hospital admissions for the week of Jan. 1-7were down by 12compared to the week before dropping to 38 from 50, according tothe report released Friday.

There were sevenCOVID-related intensive care unit admissions for the latest reporting week, compared to 12 for the week of Dec. 25-31.

The test positivity rate for COVID-19 dropped from 11.1 to 10.3 per cent in the first week of January.

The total number of COVID-19-related deaths rose by 25 in the latest report, down from a jump of 38 in the previous week's report. However, due to the holidays, the increase in thelast report reflecteda two-week period.

Wastewater surveillance dataalso suggestslower levels ofCOVID-19 activity inWinnipeg and Brandon, the report says.

Flu-related admissions down

Flu-related hospital admissions were also down 40 per cent in the first week of January from the previous week dropping to 12 from 20.

There were no flu-related admissionsto intensive care units for the latest reporting week. The totalnumber of flu-related deaths reported this season rose by four, to 54. The week before, flu-related deaths climbed by 13.

Influenza A continues to be the predominant circulating strain. The test positivity rate in the province dropped from six per cent to 2.8 per cent when compared to the previous week, which was also lower than the national average (also six per cent).

Flu season began earlier than usual, butcases are now at "expected levels" for this time of year, according to the report.

The number of weekly respiratory-related visits to emergency and urgent care departments also decreased from the previous week, the report says, dropping from 1,855 visits to 1,759.

Thenext surveillance report is scheduled to be releasedJan. 20.