Code Red Restrictions Could Be Extended

Manitoba’s Premier says his “gut feeling” is that code red restrictions might be extended further into the winter.

The province’s heavy restrictions on retail stores and gatherings are set to run until Dec. 11, but it seems a more “clear trend downwards” is needed before they can be lifted.

"We’re still working on it — we’re interested to see what this trend is and what things will look like through this week."

Premier Brian Pallister says he will leave that decision up to Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer.

“We’re really wanting to see those total numbers come down, really so that we relieve the strain on the healthcare system,” said Roussin on Tuesday, adding “we’re still working on it — we’re interested to see what this trend is and what things will look like through this week.”

The strict measures — which prevent businesses from selling non-essential items in-store and prohibit Manitobans from socializing with people they don’t live with — appear to have helped minimize the growth of the COVID situation in Manitoba. Projections released by the province in early November estimated there could be up to 800 new cases a day in Manitoba by Nov. 22.

But while our daily case numbers didn't get as bad as health officials had feared, as of right now, there's still a ways to go.

“We weren’t wanting to see still averaging over 300 cases per day at this point,” said Roussin.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Dec 2, 2020 - 6:56 am

Today the province announced 283 new cases and 16 more deaths.

Two of those deaths were reported in the Prairie Mountain Health region — one is a man in his 80s linked to the Fairview Home outbreak in Brandon, and the other is a woman in her 100s linked to the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home outbreak.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

Today’s data shows 9,066 active cases and 7,713 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 338 people in hospital with 48 people in intensive care due to COVID-19.

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba is 328.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.1% provincially and 13.8% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 17,107.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

• 17 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 22 cases in the Northern health region
• 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 54 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 178 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (5, down from 7 yesterday), Riding Mountain (21), Swan River (8), Porcupine Mountain (12), Duck Mountain (31, up from 27 yesterday), Asessippi (10), Little Saskatchewan (10), Whitemud (21), Agassiz Mountain (1). Brandon has 129 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 63 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 90.

Strict lockdown measures limiting the movement of people in Peguis First Nation and Cross Lake have now been lifted, with Public Health saying the measures have had the desired effect “and the risk of COVID-19 transmission has stabilized”. All other general public health orders in Manitoba remain in effect.

Public health officials advise 16 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:

a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region
a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region
a female in her 100s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home
a male in his 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Fairview Home
a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Fred Douglas Lodge
a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Holy Family Personal Care Home
a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Holy Family Personal Care Home
a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Buhler Active Living Centre in Winkler
a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Golden Links Lodge
a female in her 100s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Holy Family Personal Care Home.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Dec 1, 2020 - 1:42 pm

Public health order enforcement resulted in another 100 tickets and 202 warnings this past week in Manitoba.

From Nov. 22^nd to 29^th 22 tickets were issued to Manitoba businesses, 48 to individuals, and 23 for failing to wear a mask in an indoor public place.

A total of $181,574 in fines were issued last week, up from $126,082 the week prior.

The Church Of God in Steinbach was slapped with another $5,000 ticket after holding a Sunday service on the 29^th – a week after the church’s first fine.

The province has issued 30 tickets in relation to a large anti-mask demonstration held in Steinbach on Nov. 14^th. More tickets are expected to be handed out as the investigation continues.

Fines are set at $5,000 for businesses, $1,296 for individuals, and $298 for not wearing a mask in indoor public places.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Dec 1, 2020 - 12:50 pm

The City of Dauphin says a water main break may result in discoloured water coming from the tap today.

Public Works anticipate the problem will last for a few hours.

The leak has been isolated and crews are on-site.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Dec 1, 2020 - 10:37 am

Manitobans may soon have more details on the province’s plan for schooling after the holiday break.

Speaking with CTV News, Manitoba Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said more information could be coming this week, adding that remote learning “is certainly being discussed and is on the table.”

He says education officials are in talks with Public Health to help with their efforts, but also added the transmission inside Manitoba schools has been relatively low.

If the province introduces remote learning after the holiday break, there’s still been no indication from the Education Minister on how long that might last.

Details: Contributed by 730 CKDM; Published: Dec 1, 2020 - 8:40 am

Manitoba premier Brian Pallister says he’d like to see the federal government “make a real commitment” to a federal-provincial partnership on health care.

Pallister sent out a press release following the federal Liberal’s fiscal update Monday afternoon, after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the federal deficit this year has reached $381.6 billion.

Freeland says the feds are proposing $25 billion in new spending to help Canadian businesses. She also spoke on possibly bringing the wage subsidy back to 75% of business payroll costs.

Pallister says he welcomes the support for small businesses, but worries broader health-care cost consequences were not referenced in Freeland’s fiscal update.

He says the health care issue will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming First Ministers’ Meeting with the prime minister on December 10.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Dec 1, 2020 - 6:52 am

Public health officials announced 343 new cases of COVID-19 today, along with 11 more deaths.

The death of a boy under the age of 10 due to COVID-19 was announced on Saturday. Today Dr. Brent Roussin provided more details, revealing that underlying health issues were also a factor.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

23 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
46 cases in the Northern health region;
14 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
53 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
207 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (7), Riding Mountain (23), Swan River (8), Porcupine Mountain (12), Duck Mountain (27), Asessippi (10), Little Saskatchewan (9), Whitemud (22), Agassiz Mountain (1). Brandon has 129 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 68 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 96.

Public health officials have declared a COVID-19 outbreak have been declared at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern. The site has been moved to Critical (red) on the Pandemic Response System.

The province has seen a total of 16,825 cases. Of those cases, 9,260 are considered active, and 7,253 have recovered.

There are 342 people in hospital with 43 people in intensive care.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.4 percent provincially and 13.7 percent in Winnipeg.

There have been 312 deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba.

Public health officials advise 11 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:

a male in his 30s from the Winnipeg health region;
a female in her 40s from the Winnipeg health region;
a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Health Science Centre unit GA3;
a female in her 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Fairview Personal Care Home;
a male in his 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Fairview Personal Care Home;
a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud region, linked to the outbreak at Villa Youville Personal Care Home;
a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre;
a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Golden Links Lodge;
a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at St. Norbert Personal Care Home;
a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region; and
a male in his 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud region, linked to the outbreak at the Bridgepark Manor assisted living facility.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Nov 30, 2020 - 12:57 pm

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) will soon be issuing its second round of rebate cheques.

Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton made the announcement Monday morning, saying that MPI customers will receive a total of $69 million, which is about $100 per policyholder.

This second rebate is a result of fewer collision claims — about 20% lower from mid-March to the end of October compared to the previous year.

Rebates will be based on what policyholders paid during this period and is expected to be about 6% of their annual Basic Autopac premium.

Rebate cheques are set to arrive at the end of December or early January, with an estimated 675,000 cheques expected to be issued.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Nov 30, 2020 - 11:43 am

The Manitoba government has floated the idea of extending the holiday break for students by another two weeks, but no official decision has been made yet.

The idea to extend the break — which as of right now starts Dec. 18 — is to provide an extra incubation period to offset the rise in COVID cases that would result from holiday gatherings, according to Dr. Brent Roussin.

Manitoba’s top doctor is strongly advising Manitobans to refrain from their usual holiday gatherings this year, but admits that will be a challenge and that some gatherings will probably still occur.

Other provinces, including British Columbia, are also mulling over a possible holiday extension to curb COVID-19 transmission.

The Ontario government has already announced it will not extend the winter break for students — a decision that drew mixed reactions from some parents and health experts.

Ontario education minister Stephen Lecce said the extension was determined to be unnecessary, "given Ontario’s strong safety protocols, low levels of transmission," and safety within their schools.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Nov 30, 2020 - 8:22 am

Public health officials announced 11 more deaths and 365 new cases COVID-19 today.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

17 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
27 cases in the Northern health region;
Nine cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
71 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
241 cases in the Winnipeg health region.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

A previously announced case was removed yesterday, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 16,483.

Of the total cases, 9,172 are considered active cases and 7,010 are listed as recovered.

There are 336 people in hospital with 44 people in intensive care. The number of deaths is 301.

Public health officials advise a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the acute care inpatient unit at The Pas Hospital in The Pas. The site has been moved to Critical (red) on the Pandemic Response System.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (7), Riding Mountain (20), Swan River (8), Porcupine Mountain (12), Duck Mountain (22), Asessippi (10), Little Saskatchewan (9), Whitemud (22). Brandon has 131 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 66 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 95.

Public health officials advise 11 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:

a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Holy Family Home;
a female in her 80s from the Northern health region;
a female in her 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to an outbreak at the Villa Youville Personal Care Home;
a female in her 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to an outbreak at Menno Home;
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Fred Douglas Lodge;
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Park Manor Care;
a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Holy Family Home;
a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre;
a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Holy Family Home; and
a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to an outbreak at Rest Haven Nursing Home.