'Rise in numbers is always concerning': Southern Health Region seeing climbing COVID-19 infection rates
COVID-19 infection rates are climbing in the Southern Health Region at a pace much quicker than the more densely populated Winnipeg Health Region.
Twenty-four of the 60 new COVID-19 cases reported by provincial health officials on Friday, so nearly half, are from the Southern Health Region. Sixteen were counted in the Winnipeg Health Region.
It’s not a one-day blip.
Over the last seven days, the Southern Health Region, which has a population of 211,896 residents according to a 2020 provincial census, saw 157 new COVID-19 cases.
The Winnipeg health region, housing roughly 791,284 people, saw 98 new cases in the same span of time.
When accounting for population, however, there were 10.6 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the Southern Health Region compared to just under two in the Winnipeg Health Region.
In other words, even though the Southern Health Region has roughly a quarter of the population of the Winnipeg Health Region, it’s seeing an infection rate five times higher.
“This was one of the things we were worried about coming into this fourth wave,” said University of Manitoba virologist Jason Kindrachuk.
“We knew that we had lower vaccine uptake rates in the Southern Health Region,” he said, “We knew there was room for the virus to get into those areas and spread very quickly. I think what we’re seeing reflects what we were concerned about in the first place.”
The Southern Health Region has the lowest vaccine uptake rate in Manitoba.
Areas like Stanley and Winkler, both in the health region, currently have vaccination rates of 23.9% and 41%, respectively, the lowest in the province.
Active COVID-19 case rates are also highest in the Southern Health Region.
While Winnipeg has a higher overall active case count (158 active cases) than the Southern Health Region (148 active cases), the numbers look quite different when accounting for population.
Currently the Southern Health Region has 70 active cases per 100,000 residents versus just 20 in the Winnipeg Region.
“That certainly tells us quite a bit,” said Kindrachuk, “It tells us that, yes, the things we are concerned about are taking place right now in regards to accelerated transmission in areas where we have low vaccination rates.”
If this trend continues, Kindrachuk is concerned over the strain current-and-future COVID-19 cases will place on the Manitoba health-care system.
Right now, out of all the districts that make up the Southern Health Region, Steinbach has the most active COVID-19 cases with 29, followed by Hanover with 25.
Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk is concerned with where the trend could lead.
“The rise in numbers is always concerning,” said Funk, “To have restrictions become regional that could happen.”
Funk is hopeful, saying most residents and businesses are following public health orders and vaccinations are rising in the community.
“We are sitting at around 64% vaccinations and it’s climbing, things are looking better,” he said, “I encourage all our residents to get vaccinated.”
Steinbach is still below the province’s vaccine uptake average and Funk said some people are “afraid” of getting vaccinated “because they’re not sure what’s in there.”
Nathan Dyck owns a gym in Steinbach and says he’s heard of other businesses that aren’t following public health orders. He’s worried what that may mean for the community in the months ahead.
“We’re just going to continue with lockdowns,” said Dyck, “with high infection counts and it’s just not going to end for us.”
“For someone who is complying, it’s extremely frustrating.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.