Thread by @bkives

Manitoba announced 270 new cases of #COVID19 and 7 more deaths on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020.

Active cases: 7,105*
Total caseload: 11,608
Recovered: 4,324
Deaths: 179

*Inflated due to data-entry backlog

Manitoba #COVID19 patients in hospital: 240 (new record, up 6)

In ICU: 41 (down one)

Five-day Manitoba #COVID19 test-positivity rate: 13.6 per cent (new record)

Tests completed Monday: 3,126

The latest Manitobans to succumb to #COVID19

• An Interlake-Eastern woman in her 30s
• A Winnipeg woman in her 70s
• A Winnipeg man in his 70s (Victoria General outbreak)
• Two Southern men in their 80s
• Two Winnipeg women in their 90s (Simkin Centre outbreak)

Regional breakdown of new Manitoba #COVID19 cases:

• 119 Winnipeg
• 106 Southern
• 21 Interlake–Eastern
• 16 Northern
• 8 Prairie Mountain

New #COVID19 outbreaks:

- Bridgepark Manor assisted living facility in Steinbach
- Union Gospel Mission in Winnipeg
- Southeast Personal Care Home in Winnipeg
- Fairview Personal Care Home in Winnipeg
- Winnipegosis Personal Care Home in Winnipegosis

Roussin says there is a social-media rumour lab tests are being declared positive without being processed.

"This is nonsense."

Roussin then proceeds with usual messaging. Stay home, socialize with members of your household, etc.

Roussin says any retailer advertising Black Friday sales is engaging in irresponsible behaviour.

"This isn't the time for having a large sale for non-essential services ... we can't have busy businesses for non-essential reasons right now."

Reminds retailers that are open must limit customer capacity to 25 per cent.

Says again MB may reconsider what constitutes an essential business.

The woman in her 30s who died is the youngest Manitoban yet to succumb to #COVID19.

Roussin on longer Christmas break: Would not be based on risk of #COVID19 transmission at school, as kids aren't big spreaders.

More a concern about gatherings over holidays. More time away after holidays could contain the virus at home, if it'= gets spread by family gatherings.

Roussin asked about flu cases.

Says MB not seeing them.

Roussin asked about death of a woman in her 30s.

Says all deaths are tragic, especially a young person.

Says there were underlying conditions in this case.

Roussin asked about test-positivity rate for Southern Health. Declines to disclose it due to variability in smaller samples.

Roussin says MB is reconsidering a household-only order.

This is new.

To be clear, Roussin says MB may find a way to make household-only socialization an order, not just advice.

Roussin says no restriction will get Manitobans out of this.

[Yes, but more people follow rules than follow advice.]

Roussin asked if there's money for enforcement, why not for contact tracers? How many does he want?

Says Manitoba can trace 700 cases a day.

Roussin asked if he would disclose cases stemming from anti-masker rallies.

Says he would if there was a known link.

Roussin says contact tracing is improving.

"We're getting to a good spot."

Roussin: Nine #COVID19 patients under 50 are in ICU.