Manitoba's Intensive Care Units (ICU) are nearing capacity.

"The capacity is continuing to be further stretched," says Lanette Siragusa with Shared Health.

As of Wednesday, Siragusa says their ICU is at 92 per cent capacity. She notes that percentage is higher than 48 hours ago. Currently, 19 beds are occupied by people with COVID-19.

In addition, Siragusa says the province has already cancelled 43 surgeries, majority of these at St. Boniface Hospital. Siragusa says some of the cancellations are because of staff who are self-isolating at home, while other cancellations are because of changes that have been made to protect staff.

Siragusa says Manitoba continues to have beds, equipment and supplies. But, she says right now our most precious resource is staff. Like many Manitoba families, Siragusa says staff is impacted by this pandemic in many ways. And now, as respiratory season hits and COVID-19 cases climb, Siragusa says they are dealing with incredible amounts of stress and pressure as they do everything possible to keep themselves safe and their families protected while continuing to show up for work.

"Our staff are incredibly dedicated to caring for Manitobans and it's why they have chosen this career," says Siragusa. "But each and every one of them is fearful that their career choice will increase their risk of exposure and they worry about bringing this virus home to their loved ones."

According to Siragusa, the rising case count in our province is also being felt among health care workers. Since March, there have been 218 positive COVID-19 cases among staff. Siragusa says majority of these cases were not through workplace transmission. There are currently 37 health care workers with an active case, with 32 of them in Winnipeg facilities. Only one of these cases is within Southern Health. In addition, many staff is isolating after contact tracing identified them as close contacts of confirmed cases.

As mentioned earlier this week, Siragusa says an entire surgical team had to be sent home to self-isolate after misleading responses to screening questions by a surgical patient.

"I want to repeat, we need the public to be honest with screeners and answer those questions honestly," stresses Siragusa. "You will receive care, we will not deny you care, but what we need to do is make sure that our workers are protected."

Meanwhile, Siragusa says they are currently piloting a rapid testing approach for health care workers who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but are scheduled to work. As of last week, 150 symptomatic health care workers at Health Sciences Centre were tested. Siragusa says 146 of them tested negative for COVID-19 and were cleared to work by Infection Prevention and Control and Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health. The four staff who tested positive are now self-isolating at home.

"This pilot is being assessed by our clinical experts and could prove to be an important tool as we approach the respiratory virus season when many health care workers may have one or more influenza-like illness symptoms but do not have COVID-19," explains Siragusa.