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The provincial government is mulling over some modest changes to the current public health orders due for an update on Friday, Jan. 22.
A press release issued on Tuesday states the following changes are currently under consideration:
(1) Household Limits
Current orders restricting visitors to private residences could be expanded to include two additional people (family or friends) to visit a household. Orders may also be altered to permit outdoor visits of up to five people plus members of a household on outdoor private property, and to allow funerals to have up to 10 people in addition to the officiant.
(2) Retail Operations
Current orders for retail establishments could be expanded to allow all stores to open for the sale of all products and current requirements to maintain physical distancing and occupancy limits would remain in place and be enforced. That could also mean the elimination of the essential items list.
(3) Health Services and Hair Salons/Barbershops:
Non-regulated health services, hair salons and barbershops are currently closed, but a possible change could see barbershops and hairstylists to reopen at 25% capacity with adequate physical distancing and requirements to collect information for contact tracing purposes. Other non-regulated health services, such as podiatrists and reflexologists, could also be allowed to reopen with additional contact tracing and physical distancing measures.
None of the proposed changes have been set in stone and the province continues asking Manitobans fortheir input on measures that could come into effect as early as Friday.
To provide feedback, visit EngageMB
The premier says the survey launched on Friday received more than 67,500 responses, with respondents showing a strong desire to see public health use a regional approach to orders and restrictions.
The province says 74% of respondents ranked the ability to shop without limitations as somewhat or very important. By comparison, only 29% ranked the ability to attend their place of worship in person as somewhat or very important.
A full analysis of the survey is underway and will be posted on the EngageMB website once completed.
Roussin noted that final public health orders will be introduced later this week to replace public health orders expiring Friday.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The provincial government has released this week’s COVID-19 enforcement update.
183 warnings and 77 tickets were issued between Jan. 11th and 17th.
Broken down, 66 $1,296 tickets were issued to individuals, 9 were for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, and one $5,000 ticket was given to a business.
According to officials, 45 out of the 66 tickets given to individuals were for gatherings.
Of those, 9 were for a protest rally at Bell MTS Place before the Winnipeg Jets game on Jan. 14th.
The rally in Steinbach on Saturday has resulted in 10 tickets so far, but an RCMP spokesman anticipates more charges.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
All COVID-19 rebate cheques issued by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) are now in the mail.
MPI issued its first set of cheques to policyholders back in May, totalling $110 million.
The second wave of rebates were a result of fewer collision claims, according to MPI. In total, $69 million will be returned to Manitobans.
For rebates less than $10, no cheque will be issued; the customer’s account will automatically be credited.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A Virden man has received his sentencing after admitting to manslaughter and uttering threats.
24-year-old Bradley Tomms appeared in Brandon Court yesterday where he received 6 years, 3 months in prison.
In January 2019, an altercation involving Tomms, at that time 22-years-old, and a 27-year-old man resulted in both being sent to the hospital. The 27-year-old later died in hospital.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
“Stand!” the 2019 movie written by Ethelbert’s Danny Schur, is getting a special free screening online.
Tonight at 6 p.m. the film will be available in the US and Manitoba.
Adapted from Schur's stage play called “Strike!”, the movie features a Ukrainian Catholic boy, who falls in love with his neighbour, a Ukrainian Jewish girl, as they deal with the racism and discrimination of the early 20th Century. The Romeo and Juliet tale also navigates the events that led to the historic 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.
The movie has been made available due to a special arrangement with the Washington, DC Labor Film Fest. But, because of all the dedication and support Manitobans have shown the production of the movie, this free screening is being offered as a token of appreciation and gratitude.
To watch the movie, RSVP here, a bonus Q&A with Danny, who also composed and produced the movie, director Rob Adetuyi, and Hollywood actor Gregg Henry will also be available.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Asessippi Ski Area and Resort have decided to close until February 1st due to a case of COVID-19.
Yesterday, they learned a staff member tested positive for the virus.
Even though public health officials say the exposure risk is low and didn’t request the resort to close, they made the decision anyways.
In a release, they say, “All we care about is everyone’s health and safety. We would rather not be here at all than put our staff, our guests, and the public at risk and have thus decided to close for two weeks and issue this notice.”
It isn’t known how this case was transmitted, but the resort says as soon as the individual recognized they were symptomatic, they were tested and isolating within hours.
If there’s a risk identified to guests, public health will inform Asessippi Resort and the public.
All guests that prebooked lifts until February 1st will be automatically refunded.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Residents of Dauphin’s St. Paul’s Personal Care Home had their first chance to receive the Moderna vaccine over the weekend.
On Saturday, Jan. 15, St. Paul’s resident Myra Childs was the first to receive the vaccine at the Dauphin care home.
St. Paul’s PCH staff member David Sarkonak met the current provincial eligibility criteria and received the extra dose of the Moderna vaccine.
A leftover vaccine dose was given to care home staff member David Sarkonak, who rolled up his sleeve to receive the shot.
The immunizations are part of a plan to offer the vaccine to all Manitoba care home residents by Feb. 8.
Prairie Mountain Health's Focused Immunization Teams (FIT) and PCH nurses have begun immunizing personal care home residents across the province.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba health officials are announcing 118 new COVID-19 cases and 4 more deaths today.
Three of today’s deaths are in Winnipeg, and one is in the Northern Health region.
Prairie Mountain Health has provided an update on the situation at the Dauphin hospital after an outbreak was declared there last Friday.
After an outbreak was declared on Jan. 12 at St. Pauls Personal Care Home in Dauphin, the province is now reporting one case has been identified - which is a staff member.
Today’s new cases are from the following health regions:
• 11 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 46 cases in the Northern health region
• seven cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• nine cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region and
• 45 cases in the Winnipeg health region
There have been a total of 27,629 cases of the virus province-wide. The number of deaths is 773.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.6 percent provincially and 7.3 percent in Winnipeg.
Manitoba has a total of 3,108 active cases and 23,748 recoveries.
There are 135 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 154 in hospital who are no longer infectious but require care (289 total hospitalizations).
There are 23 people in intensive care with active COVID-19 and 12 people who are no longer infectious that still need critical care (35 total ICU patients).
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (54), Duck Mountain (6), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (3), Whitemud (1), and Agassiz Mountain (40). Brandon has 66 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 66 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 54.
With the current code red restrictions set to expire on Friday, Jan. 22, Manitoba officials are calling on the public to share their thoughts on which restrictions should be relaxed or maintained. You can fill out the survey online at Engagemb.ca.
Manitoba has opened its second COVID-19 immunization site today at Brandon’s Keystone Centre.
Prairie Mountain Health asks that people do not call the Brandon Keystone Centre directly for any information regarding the COVID vaccination program. An internal confidential phone number has been provided to those staff groups that are eligible for the vaccine.
For a list of who is eligible for the vaccine, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) is providing an update on the situation at the Dauphin hospital after an outbreak was declared on Friday, Jan. 15.
A statement from PMH CEO Penny Gilson indicates they’re working through the current outbreak in the medicine unit at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC).
Endoscopy and surgical services will continue, while regular scheduled surgical cases are restricted to outpatients only. Emergency surgery is still being performed.
Gilson states this is out of an abundance of caution "to protect the bed capacity for medical admissions on the surgery unit as needed".
PMH says the emergency department at the hospital remains open, continuing to see and treat people with conditions or symptoms that are not related to COVID-19.
During the pandemic, all patients who arrive at emergency departments in the Prairie Mountain Health region are screened and assessed by the appropriate health-care providers.
The province has not yet provided any statistics on the number of cases associated with the DRHC outbreak.
The ongoing outbreak at the McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre in Prairie Mountain Health has identified 42 total COVID infections (14 staff, 28 non-staff) and four deaths.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
No vaccine appointments have been cancelled in Manitoba following news that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine delivery schedules will be delayed across Canada.
Health Minister Heather Stefanson made that announcement on Friday following confirmation that shipments of the Pfizer BioNTech will be cut in half between Jan. 25 and Feb. 21 while the company takes a pause to upgrade its production facilities in Europe.
As a result, no new appointments in Manitoba will be made during this period of time — but appointments that have already been booked will continue, and second doses will still be administered within the window set out by the manufacturer.
The province says the plan to immunize all residents of personal care homes by Feb. 8 is also unaffected.
The delayed shipment means the second super-site in Brandon will significantly scale back operations shortly after opening on Monday, Jan. 18.
Federal procurement Minister Anita Anand is asking Pfizer-BioNTech to get the vaccine delivery schedule back on track as soon as possible.
As of Saturday night, more than 543,000 Canadians have received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
With the code red lockdown currently forcing Manitoba gyms and fitness centres to close their doors to the public, at-home exercise options have become much more of a focal point.
Research shows exercise can be very helpful in managing depression, anxiety and stress levels that have been heightened by the pandemic situation.
One form of exercise that’s proving to be quite useful is yoga — a practice of meditation and breath control which often involves moving through a series of body postures, akin to stretching.
Dauphin-based yoga instructor Erin Forsyth agrees yoga is a great option as it requires no equipment, little space, and can be practiced anytime.
“I find it’s the best at-home exercise. All you need is a comfortable spot, and there is a lot of free resources out. There are so many free yoga practices on Youtube,” says Forsyth.
She says the upside of yoga goes beyond the benefits to your body, and that people often feel mentally and emotionally better after their practice.
Her advice: start with what feels good in your body.
Erin explains there are many different types of yoga, some with more “meditative” options where you sit completely still and focus on the breath, and others that incorporate more physically challenging movements and body positions.
“If you are a little nervous about being in a yoga studio around other people, the nice thing about doing a yoga practice at home is there’s nobody else around. It might be more comfortable for you, and maybe as you get more comfortable in your yoga practice, you can go check out a group class once it’s allowed.”
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For more practical and interesting health-related tips from the experts, you can check out CKDM’s “Health. Wellness. And You” page, with full-length interviews and more!
Health.Wellness. And You is hosted by CKDM News Director Matt Hamel.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
