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A nurse shortage in the province has left several hospitals in the Prairie Mountain Health Region to have their emergency departments closed over the holidays.

Some hospitals including Roblin, Shoal Lake and Souris are closed longer term because of physician shortages as well.

Several facilities south of Brandon are closed due to nursing shortages and it has left patients no choice but to have to travel much further to communities like Brandon for assistance.

Prairie Mountain Health has said that in some hospitals the emergency department and in-patient beds have had to close because of the shortages.

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Contributed by Eric Fawx

Published: Dec 31, 2021 - 6:26 am

New Year's Eve is tomorrow and it is important to plan ahead and have safe and sober transportation home. The Dauphin RIDE Program is not operating this year because of COVID health and safety concerns, so plan to have a designated driver, or call Dauphin Taxi at 204-638-3315.

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Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Dec 30, 2021 - 2:33 pm

COVID Test Results Coming Up As Canceled

Central Services Minister Reg Helwer says you don't need to worry if your COVID test results are coming up as cancelled.

The results are just being sent to a different lab because the first one they showed up at was full.

There’s no need to go get tested again, you'll still get your results, they just might take a few days as the turnaround time for tests is now around 7 days.

Province Sending Out More Masks To Liquor Marts

The province said today they've sent out six hundred thousand K-N 95 masks to Liquor Marts across Manitoba.

CKDM reached out to the Dauphin Liquor Mart and they said they have yet to receive any and aren’t sure when they will be available in-store for pickup.

The masks will be available at Liquor Marts until supply runs out.

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Contributed by Eric Fawx

Published: Dec 30, 2021 - 12:31 pm

At approximately 9:30 last night Dauphin Fire was dispatched for a report of fire alarms sounding at Credit Union Place.

Upon arrival, firefighters were met by Dauphin Rec Services staff who reported the alarm panel indicated an issue in a stairwell in the curling rink area of the facility.

When staff went to investigate they saw smoke coming from a wall heater and immediately went to shut off the breaker supplying power to the heater.

Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to ensure there was no fire spread inside of the walls and cleared the remainder of the facility.

Thanks to the quick actions of DRS staff, the damage was limited to the wall heater.

There are no estimates on damages at this time.

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Contributed by Eric Fawx

Published: Dec 30, 2021 - 4:37 am

Manitoba has announced they have made a deal with a Winnipeg-based lab to help with the current COVID-19 testing backlog. This deal could help Manitoba increase its testing capacity by up to 30% by completing an additional 1000 tests a day.

The province has been struggling to keep up with testing demands as case numbers rise due to the Omicron Variant. The current testing backlog is at more than 12,500 tests.

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Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Dec 29, 2021 - 2:19 pm

Manitoba will now be offering a fourth dose of the COVID-19 MRNA Vaccine to people who are immunocompromised. As is the case with the third booster dose, it is suggested that there be at least 6 months between doses.

People who are moderate to severely immunocompromised due to a medical condition and/or treatment include those who:

• Are receiving active chemotherapy (or immunotherapy) for cancer
• Have received a solid organ transplant and are currently receiving chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive therapy
• Were born with moderate or severe dysfunction of their immune system
• Are living with untreated or advanced HIV-AIDS
• Are taking certain medications that severely affect the immune system.

The following people should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of an additional dose:

• Receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
• On the list to receive a solid organ transplant
• Have a ventricular assist device.

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Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Dec 29, 2021 - 10:18 am

Manitoba Ag Days show in 2022 has been postponed due to the new public health restrictions that came into effect yesterday. The show was set to take place January 18-20 at Keystone Centre in Brandon.

The new public health restrictions limit public indoor gatherings to 50% or 250 people, whichever is less. Ag Days management team is working with the Keystone Centre to find a date that works for the event. More updates will be given as they come.

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Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Dec 29, 2021 - 9:49 am

At approximately 6 pm on Tuesday evening, Dauphin Fire was dispatched to a structure fire several miles northwest of the City.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a two-car garage fully engulfed in flames.

Crews set up their lines and started to protect a car that was parked in front of the garage before beginning to extinguish the main body of the fire.

The fire was accidental in nature after it was determined to have been caused by a heat lamp that was located in a lean-to built on the side of the garage.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire and no estimate on the cost of damages was given at this time.

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Contributed by Eric Fawx

Published: Dec 29, 2021 - 5:16 am

Environment Canada has issued dozens of extreme cold weather warnings across the western provinces including right here in Dauphin and the surrounding area with wind-chilled temperatures hitting as low as minus 55 degrees Celsius in some areas over the next few days.

The bone-chilling cold has gripped all of Alberta, most of British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and even parts of here in Manitoba along with Ontario.

It appears there is no relief in sight however as the weather agency says the extreme cold could persist into the new year next week.

The wind chill over the next few days here in Dauphin could reach minus 46 or colder in the mornings with a risk of frostbite in just a few minutes.

Environment Canada also says to make sure to dress in layers and make sure the outer layer is wind resistant to help cut down the cold wind. If you have to work outside they recommend you take regular breaks to warm up.

If it is too cold out for you then it Is also too cold for your pets so make sure they stay indoors where it is warm as much as possible.

The full list of extreme cold warnings in the province can be found here.

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Contributed by Eric Fawx

Published: Dec 28, 2021 - 9:02 am

This afternoon the Manitoba Provincial government announced they are updating their health orders when it comes to public gatherings across the province which will affect capacity limits at locations where all attendees are fully vaccinated, have a medical reason not to receive a vaccine or people are under 12 years of age.

Premier Heather Stefanson and Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced the newly edited restrictions to help reduce the spread of the Omicron Variant of Covid-19.

The newly released restrictions mean gatherings must not exceed 50 percent of the usual capacity of the space, or 250 people, whichever is less. This includes:

• indoor and outdoor public gatherings.
• restaurants, licensed premises, food courts, and socials.
• movie theatre and concert halls.
• performing arts venues and outdoor ticketed performing arts events.
• museums and art galleries.
• outdoor and indoor sporting and recreational facilities including dance schools and martial arts studios.
• gyms, fitness centers, and yoga studios.
• indoor and outdoor ticketed sporting events.
• indoor recreational businesses.
• seasonal facilities and events.
• religious services and Indigenous cultural events; and
• bingos, casinos, and businesses with VLTs.

In addition to the restrictions, liquor sales in restaurants and licensed premises must end at 10 p.m. daily.

All these changes will come into effect on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 12:01 a.m. and will expire on Jan. 11, 2022.

Dr. Roussin also gave an update on the testing backlog which is now at 11,500.

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Contributed by Eric Fawx

Published: Dec 27, 2021 - 2:42 pm