Manitoba reported its second highest ever daily COVID-19 count Friday and health officials say another three Manitobans with the virus have died.
Friday’s 594 new infections come just a day after Manitoba reported a record-setting 603 new cases.
Health officials also say another two ICU patients with COVID-19 have been transferred to hospital in Northern Ontario to free up beds in Manitoba.
That brings the number of critically-ill patients with novel coronavirus who’ve been moved out of province this week due to over capacity to five.
“The decisions are not being made lightly,” said Manitoba’s chief nursing officer, Lanette Siragusa of which patients are being chosen for transfer.
“As we admit 10 (new ICU patients) on a daily basis, like we did yesterday, we need to be able to make sure we are stable to manage the incoming flow and those long-stay patients.
“Our critical care team is looking closely at who are stable patients who could be appropriate for this transfer, if need be.”
An official with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has told Global News room can be made for as many as 20 Manitoba patients at hospitals throughout Northern Ontario, if needed.
