NewsNow
Dr. Brent Roussin has announced one additional case of COVID-19 in our province today. Roussin also announced that a sixth death has been reported, a woman in her 80s.
The increase brings the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable cases in Manitoba to 254.
- Eight individuals are currently hospitalized, five of which are in intensive care.
- 144 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 while there are currently 105 active cases.
260 tests were done yesterday at the Cadham Provincial Lab and since early February, a total of 20,012 have been conducted.
13 cases are confirmed within Prairie Mountain Health. As of April 19th, the Dauphin drive-thru COVID screening site has tested 152 people. A total of 745 people have been tested at both PMH screening locations (in Brandon and Dauphin).
In other news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manitoba government has extended the current state of emergency for another 30 days and expanded testing has started in the province.
Premier Brian Pallister had this to say earlier.
"While Manitoba's case numbers appear to be low, that doesn't mean the risk of COVID-19 is low," he offered.
Critical service workers who are symptomatic along with their family members can now be tested.
They are also focusing on testing the following individuals:
- Travellers returning to Manitoba.
- Someone who came in close contact with a confirmed case.
- Lab workers who have worked with COVID-19 tests.
- Health-care workers.
- People who live and work in the north, isolated or group settings, correctional facilities, shelters, long-term care or residential facilities or remote work camps.
- First responders.
- Workers or volunteers at workplaces that have been identified as essential services.
- Any symptomatic person who lives with a health-care worker, first responder or worker in a congregate setting such as a correctional facility, shelter, long-term care or residential facility.
Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required.
For up-to-date information on community screening sites, visit COVID-19.
- Details
- Contributed by Darnell Duff
A man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a serious off-road collision on Peguis First Nation.
Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 18th, Fisher Branch RCMP received a report of a collision on East Road on the Peguis First Nation
The 62-year-old man from Peguis was wearing a helmet when he lost control of the ATV.
Visibility is believed to be a factor in the collision.
Fisher Branch RCMP say the man remains in critical condition, and they continue to investigate.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
For the third week in a row in Dauphin, gas prices haven’t changed from 74.9 cents per litre.
Provincially, gas prices fell 0.8 c/L, averaging 70.31 c/L. Meanwhile, the national average increased by 1.5 c/L this past week to average 77.79 c/L.
Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy wasn’t surprised in the slight change in overall gas prices.
"The situation, while astonishing for motorists, is creating deeper and larger wounds in Canada's economy as Western Canadian Select crude oil trades for just a few dollars per barrel. With the wounds to the oil industry growing deeper, it's becoming more likely that even after most Canadians return to work, there will be a hangover to the low prices that many motorists will eventually be able to take advantage of for not just days but weeks and perhaps months."
Including the change in gas prices in Manitoba during the past week, prices yesterday were 57.9 c/L lower than the same day one year ago.
Dauphin’s gas price of 74.9 c/L is higher than the average price of 72.70 c/L in Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg’s price of 66.60 c/L.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Dauphin Chamber executive director Stephen Chychota is working hard to help Parkland businesses get connected with the federal and provincial support programs available to them.
Chychota admits all this information can be difficult to keep track of, and he commends the province’s decision to set up a call centre to help Manitoba businesses navigate this new information.
Last week, Premier Brian Pallister announced Winnipeg-based company 24-7 Intouch will be operating as a call centre to help the 65,000 Manitoba businesses eligible for federal support.
The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) has now been expanded to include businesses that had payrolls last year between $20,000 and $1.5 million. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says $7.5 billion in loans have already been approved.
Chamber Executive Director Stephen Chychota says the new call centre is a valuable resource to help local businesses during this challenging time.
“That’s where our role is too, in sharing that information. We can help guide and put those pieces together for some businesses. If this call centre is done correctly, it could really help with the headache of trying to piece all this information together.
The Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce is asking local businesses to stay in contact and share their questions and concerns.
“It would be great if we could get some help from the businesses too; reaching out to us, letting us know what’s going on. Whether you need some help with resources, or if there’s some gaps not being fulfilled by the provincial or federal government. If we have that information, we can share that with our Manitoba Chamber of Commerce.”
Chychota says local businesses can stay up to date with the Chamber’s virtual information seminars. You can also stay in contact with the Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre says there is a risk of ice pileup on Dauphin Lake, Lake Winnipegosis, and Lake Manitoba.
This also includes the south shores of Lake Winnipeg including areas near Gimli and Victoria Beach.
The Forecast Centre reports that winds will shift from south to north later today, resulting in a moderate to high wind warning.
Strong north winds are forecast for early tomorrow afternoon until tomorrow evening around 10 p.m.
Officials are advising property owners to take precautions.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The daily COVID-19 press conference in Manitoba was cancelled Sunday.
Public health officials are saying no new cases of the virus have been identified, so the number of cases in Manitoba remains at 253.
There are currently 105 active cases in the province. A total of 143 people are listed as recovered.
This is now the third consecutive day where the amount of people recovered outnumbers active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba.
There have been five deaths in the province due to COVID-19.
A total of 13 cases have been confirmed in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required.
For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit: www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A brief manhunt happened Saturday night as police searched for an escaped prisoner from the Headingley Correctional Centre.
Around 11 p.m., Winnipeg Police asked residents to stay indoors as they reported many police units were in the area searching for the escaped prisoner.
Before midnight, police tweeted the prisoner had been located and taken back into custody.
Headingley’s RCMP detachment conducted the search with assistance from the Winnipeg Police Service.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Restrictions on non-essential travel at the Canada-US border have been extended for another 30 days.
During his daily address to the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the extension an important measure to keep people safe on both sides of the border.
Restrictions at the border began on March 21st, and were set to expire on Tuesday, April 21st.
Meanwhile, some encouraging news with some provinces and cities beginning to report slower growth of COVID-19 cases.
Federal officials acknowledge some areas of the country may be closer than others to reopening, but stress it must be done carefully.
- Details
- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Public Health officials have announced 3 more cases COVID-19 in the province.
The total number of cases is now 253.
Seven people are currently being hospitalized, and the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Manitoba remains at 5.
At this time, the number of active cases is 108, and the number of recoveries is 140.
The number of cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region is now at 13.
If you are concerned about your exposure to to risk of having COVID-19, you should call Health Links at 204-788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-325-9257.
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Turtle River School Division announced earlier this week that they they’ve postponed their graduation ceremonies until the fall.
Just like Mountain View School Division, Bev Szymesko says it was the right thing to do
"I had a meeting with the principals and it was a very difficult decision for us," said Szymesko, Superintendent of the Turtle River School Division. "We just felt it was the prudent decision, we don't know what anything will look like in June."
The postponement will affect roughly 45-55 students across TRSD that were set to graduate.
Szymesko understands that graduates may be going through a tough time; however, she assures there will be a time to celebrate.
"The school principals, the students, and their parents will plan graduation moving forward," she continued. "We didn't cancel anything, we just pushed things back until the fall."
The date for graduation will be decided by each school.
School principals will be contacting families of grade 12 students and will also be available to answer any questions or concerns.
- Details
- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) says she’s heard the closure of the Dauphin Correctional Centre (DCC) is going to proceed on May 29th.
Michelle Gawronsky has been calling on Justice Minister Cliff Cullen to delay the closure until after the pandemic. She says it's not fair to make correctional officers and their families relocate at this time.
“My initial reaction was disgust. I found out through the members there was a meeting held at the Dauphin jail with the superintendent of the jail telling our members, contrary to what they’d been told, that the closure of the jail will be definitely happening on May 29th.”
Gawronsky says she’s not exactly sure if jail workers are going to be asked to break social distancing guidelines as they look to relocate, buy new homes, and register kids for school.
“We’re not exactly sure what the expectation is for these workers.”
The MGEU president explains she discussed the topic of delaying the closure while on a conference call with Minister of Justice Cliff Cullen on April 1st. Gawronsky says she is waiting to hear back from Minister Cullen.
Going forward, Gawronsky says she's hoping the public will voice their displeasure and contact the premier directly with their concerns.
“To me, it’s a fairly easy answer. Just make an announcement that the closure of the Dauphin jail has been delayed until the pandemic is over.”
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
