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As of 9:30 this morning, public health officials in Manitoba advise three additional probable cases of COVID-19 have been identified.
This brings the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases to 39.
Manitoba has also recorded its first patient death -- a woman in her 60s who was in intensive care.
As of 12:01 a.m. Monday, public gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals.
It doesn’t apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters.
Retail businesses including grocery or food stores, shopping centres, pharmacies or gas stations must ensure separation of one to two metres between patrons assembling in the business.
606 tests were performed yesterday, and as of yesterday, 6,203 tests have been performed in Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Premier Brian Pallister announced this morning that the government is investing in the mental health of Manitobans with a program to address anxiety caused by the coronavirus.
The province is partnering with Morneau Shepell, Canada’s leading provider of technology-enabled HR services, to launch an internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program, free of charge, to all Manitobans over the age of 16.
The province will spend $4.5 million to provide these services to Manitobans for up to a year.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen made the announcement alongside Pallister.
There is the impact of COVID-19 as well that we do not see and it is equally as real, and equally as important. It is happening in the way we are thinking, the way we are feeling, the way we are behaving, and this needs to be adressed as well."
Morneau Shepell launched this digital therapy program last week in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new program is guided by professional therapists and addresses anxiety symptoms related to the uniquely challenging aspects of pandemics: uncertainty, physical isolation, caring for family and community members, information overload and stress management.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Keystone Agricultural Producers has released a sanitation checklist for farmers.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, KAP says we all must implement safety and sanitation protocols in our daily lives, and our farms need protocols as well.
As preparations are made for the spring planting season, it’s imperative that producers and staff practice appropriate sanitation.
KAP says for on-farm, the best practices include prohibiting all nonessential visitors to your farm, to continue to follow all existing biosecurity and food safety standards that you have in place on your farm.
If you have hired workers, make them aware of expectations for them to stay home from work if they are feeling ill or believe they may have been exposed to COVID 19 and to practice self-isolation.
Share new information about the COVID-19 situation with workers each morning, or at the start of each shift, and ensure that they are following best practices.
The sanitation best practices they suggest include cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms daily, putting hand sanitizer and paper towels in all vehicles and equipment, where possible limit the number of operators for individual vehicles and equipment, establish protocols to sanitize equipment (e.g., wipe door handles, steering wheels, gear shifters, controls, monitors, etc.), and ensure that everyone sanitizes equipment when getting into and out of vehicles and equipment.
In addition, print a handwashing poster and display it in washrooms and workshop to act as a reminder for everyone to practice frequent handwashing, implement a protocol on your farm outlining how often handwashing (for at least 20 seconds) must take place and ensure everyone follows it, ensure that you and your workers distance themselves by six feet where possible (understanding that this may not always be possible depending upon the tasks taking place), and when travelling off-farm, remain in the cab if possible and do not allow other people to enter the vehicle.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made his daily announcement, which focuses on helping businesses.
Last week, Trudeau announced the government will be giving small and medium businesses that qualify, a 10 percent wage subsidy.
Since some businesses have still had to lay off workers, Trudeau is upping that to 75 percent, in hopes that businesses thinking about laying off workers, won’t, and those that have made layoffs, rehire their employees.
Trudeau has also announced the creation of the Canada Emergency Business Account. Eligible businesses can receive a guaranteed 40 thousand dollars, interest-free for the first year. Some qualifying businesses can even have up to 10 thousand dollars forgiven.
GST and HST payments are also being deferred to June to allow businesses to keep and use the money that they would have ended up sending the government. Trudeau says that is the equivalent of the government giving 30 billion dollars.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
During this economically-uncertain time, there’s been plenty of talk about financial assistance for Canadians.
But what about financial assistance specifically for the agriculture industry?
CKDM spoke with Maryam Monsef, the Federal Minister of Rural Economic Development, to find out more about what’s being done at the federal level to support farmers and agriculture producers.
“There’s a recognition that we need to still be able to get goods to and from our biggest trade partner; the United States. So we’ve ensured in the health and safety measures we’ve taken around COVID, that the Canada-US border still allows the trucks to pass through and continue their work.”
The Minister explains there's also a special travel exemption that will allow temporary foreign workers to enter Canada.
“We were able to ensure that temporary foreign workers are able to continue to work on these farms and provide their important services.”
On Monday, the prime minister announced significant investments in Farm Credit Canada. That means an additional $5 billion in lending capacity will be available to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors.
Trudeau also announced eligible farmers with an outstanding Advance Payments Program (APP) loan due on or before April 30 will receive a Stay of Default, allowing them an additional six months to repay the loan.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The City of Dauphin is extending the deadline for its tree giveaway.
A total of 190 trees will be given away to local residents and businesses to plant in their yards all around the city.
The initiative is in celebration of Manitoba 150, and aims to help increase the urban foresty here in the Garden Capital of Manitoba.
The following trees will be available:
- Silver Maple
- Paper Birch
- Delta Hackberry
- Trembling Aspen
- Ming Amur Cherry
- Russian Mountain Ash
- American Linden
- Dropmore Linden
- Glenleven Linden
- Discover Elm
- Triumph hybrid Elm
Applications are open until April 15th, and you can visit the City of Dauphin website for more information.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Today the provincial government announced it will invest nearly $8 million to enhance spring flood preparations and protection.
Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires says the money will help more than 80 Manitoba municipalities take important steps to enhance flood protection.
“Municipalities know best what will work for them, and this program is designed to help ensure protection put in place this year will benefit communities for many years to come.”
Based on applications, the breakdown for funding by district is:
• Parkland District – $759,262.68 for 11 municipalities;
• Central District – $1,271,662.07 for 14 municipalities;
• Eastern District – $776,451.01 for 10 municipalities;
• Interlake District – $1,059.167.70 for 10 municipalities;
• Midwestern District – $715,082.41 for nine municipalities;
• Northern District – $76,899.00 for two municipalities;
• Western District – $1,139,583.73 for 15 municipalities; and
• Winnipeg Metropolitan Region – $2,041,770.52 for 13 municipalities.
The funding covers items such as generators, pumps, steaming equipment to unclog frozen culverts, utility trailers, equipment for emergency operations centres, sandbags and other small equipment that will assist municipalities in protecting vital infrastructure and reducing flood damage.
We’re also learning of a new opportunity for municipalities to set aside funding for disaster mitigation programs in their communities.
A full breakdown of today’s announcement can be found here.
A full list of the 2020 Flood Protection Program projects is located here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Manitoba Premier says virtually every Canadian province is going to need help generating funds to support their healthcare systems during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Premier Brian Pallister is warning Manitobans our emergency rainy day fund could run out in as little as three months, as we battle the COVID-19 crisis.
So Pallister is calling on the federal government to establish an emergency credit agency, to borrow money on behalf of the provinces.
He says the emergency credit agency will help provinces save money because the federal government will pay far lower interest costs on its borrowing than Canadian provinces will.
The Premier says this would save Canadians billions of dollars annually, and stressed the importance of a well-supported healthcare system in times of crisis.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Every year, hundreds of people apply for the Horatio Alger Association of Canada scholarship. The selection committee looks at a few contributing factors including perseverance to get through tough situations and the financial need. You also need to maintain at least a 65% average.
Only four students in all of Manitoba were selected and Gilbert Plains Collegiate Jaelyn Frykas is one of them. That means the 17-year-old's post-secondary education will start with a little bit of a boost as she's been rewarded with $5000.
"It's such an honour to be able to know that I won this and they believed in me," said Frykas, a grade 12 student.
Jaelyn is set to attend Brandon University in the fall and she'll be looking to major in physical therapy. She's choosing that field because of her passion for sports. For the past several years, Frykas has helped her high school volleyball team enjoy a ton of success including winning three provincial titles. She was also the co-captain of the team for the past two seasons and she has a couple of all-star accolades to her name as well.
"That's the biggest reason why I want to be in this field. Although I won't be playing, I'll be connected with the players and that's what makes me the most excited," she added. "Just to know that I'll be right in the middle of things means a lot to me."
One of the criteria for winning the scholarship is also community involvement and Jaelyn is all about that. Prior to the club volleyball season ending, she was an assistant coach for the Predators 15U team based out of Grandview.
She's also helped out with intramurals at her school during her time at the collegiate and she volunteers for SwimAbilities, a swimming program for children with special needs. She's also on Student Voice, a student-led committee for Mountain View School Division.
"Volunteering and just helping out has always been a big part of my life, I love helping wherever I can," she continued.
After living in her hometown for her entire life, Jaelyn will spend a couple more months at home before she makes the transition to college life, one that will be spent at Brandon University, the home of the Bobcats.
"I am so very excited about this. I'm passionate about this and I can't wait to get things going," she concluded. "It's a perfect fit for me; I'll be pushing for excellence just as I have been for as long as I can remember."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
In Prime Minister Trudeau’s daily COVID-19 update, he announced the implementation of the Quarantine Act.
That means people who don’t comply with self-isolation policies after returning from travel can face fines or possible jail time.
Trudeau also says Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau is in talks with the country's big banks to see if they can help Canadians struggling to pay their bills.
The federal government is asking banks and credit-card companies to lower their interest rates.
Trudeau says this is another part of his government's effort to help Canadians deal with these financially uncertain times.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba Public Health officials have announced one more case of COVID-19.
The new case is a Winnipeg man in his 20's. Dr. Brent Roussin says it appears this is linked to a previous case.
That brings the total number of probable and lab-confirmed cases in the province to 36, after we saw the number of cases increase by 14 yesterday.
Dr. Brent Roussin says the self-isolation orders for recent travellers must be taken seriously.
"We're not really asking. International returning travellers must quarantine for 14 days. There could be penalties for not complying."
You can visit manitoba.ca/covid19 for more information, and to access the online screening tool.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
