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To help ease the workload of Health Minister Cameron Friesen during the pandemic, Premier Brian Pallister is thinking about appointing a second health minister.
In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Pallister wanted to make it clear that this isn’t a criticism of Friesen.
"It's not a reflection on my faith or trust in Cam Friesen. Nobody has worked harder."
As Manitoba continues to deal with high COVID cases, Pallister says the move would be temporary because he doesn’t want to make permanent changes due to a short term demand.
During the fall Manitoba led the country in new infections per capita, causing testing capacity and contract tracing to fail to keep up with the high demand.
There are other provinces that have double health ministers such as Ontario where one focuses on long-term care and BC where the other focuses on mental health and addictions.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) says emergency department services at the Grandview hospital will resume Monday, Dec 21.
Some staff at the Grandview District Health Centre were reassigned to the Grandview Personal Care Home to provide support with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in the suspension of some services at the hospital.
Some health services continued to operate at the Grandview hospital, including lab and X-ray services, and the clinic.
The province says 34 cases of COVID-19 have been identified at the Grandview PCH, resulting in the death of two care home residents.
A release from PMH states more details on the emergency department reopening plan will be available later this week.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The first round of vaccinations in Manitoba is set to get underway tomorrow, with 900 healthcare providers first in line.
The province’s first COVID immunization clinic will launch tomorrow morning at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences campus in Winnipeg, which has the capacity to safely store the Pfizer vaccine at ultra-cold temperatures.
Premier Brian Pallister says it’s the first step towards establishing vaccination sites throughout the province — with sites in Brandon, Thompson, Steinbach, Gimli, Portage la Prairie and The Pas expected to launch in the new year based on vaccine supplies.
“In the coming months we anticipate vaccine availability will be out to Brandon and to the Parkland,” said the Premier.
Pallister cautioned Manitobans to stick to the fundamentals, saying the arrival of a limited number of vaccines does not mean the province is out of the woods yet.
“Our numbers week-over-week were down by 15.8% in Manitoba, and they were up by the same amount in Ontario. This is not about saying Manitoba is better than Ontario … this is just saying to Manitobans we’ve got tougher restrictions; those restrictions are working, they’re saving lives, but we have to stay at it.”
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
After the province announced that thrift stores in Manitoba can re-open under new code red restrictions, the Almost New Store in Dauphin is once again welcoming customers.
Thrift stores in Manitoba can now sell non-essential items in-store under the new code red restrictions, but manager of the Almost New Store Janie Galloway explains there are still some guidelines.
“It’s actually pretty exciting to have people back in the store again and everybody’s happy to be able to shop. Unfortunately we have to limit shopping time to 15 minutes and it has to be by appointment only because we can only have 2 people in the store at a time.”
Janie says she’s happy with the revised restrictions, adding “there are a lot of people that rely on thrift stores for everyday items. They can’t afford to shop at Walmart or wherever things may be priced quite a bit more expensive.”
To book an appointment you can call 204-638-0490.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Dauphin Rec Services have re-opened their playgrounds in the city.
Programs & Promotions Coordinator with Dauphin Rec, Tamara Kolida says after reviewing the current code red public health orders and consulting our local public health officer, playgrounds were approved to open.
“So we got the go-ahead to open all the city parks and playgrounds so we’re super excited about that. We just hope people obviously stick to the current public health orders. Only go with people from your household so that we can do our part in preventing COVID.”
She adds that although parks are now open, it’s important to stay vigilant to public health orders.
“Social distance. If you see another family there maybe stay on the other side of the playground. We have lots of playgrounds in the city. We’re just hoping that people follow the rules and keep their distance from others outside of their household.”
Manitoba’s code red restrictions prohibit people to gather in groups larger than 5.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba has recorded another day under 300 new cases, with 272 announced today.
The announcement of 9 more deaths brings Manitoba’s total to 508. One is from the Prairie Mountain Health region.
The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.
The province has adjusted its schedule for giving COVID-19 during the holidays. The live press conferences with Dr. Brent Roussin will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays -- with breaks scheduled around Christmas and New Years Day.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 14.2% provincially and 13.4% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 21,535.
The data shows 5,762 active cases and 15,265 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 311 people in hospital, with 44 people in intensive care due to COVID-19.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 15 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 53 cases in the Northern health region
• 49 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 25 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 130 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (5), Riding Mountain (10), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (55), Duck Mountain (17), Asessippi (6), Little Saskatchewan (6), and Whitemud (1). Brandon has 165 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 33, according to the province’s latest update.
Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer is urging Manitobans to only leave their homes for essential purposes — and says when leaving the house to obtain essentials, “be sure to physically distance, wear a mask in indoor public places and avoid crowded spaces. Do not leave the home if you are sick, or when any member of your family is sick. Further, do not socialize with anyone from outside your household.”
Public health officials advise nine additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including:
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Park Manor Care Home
• a female in her 90s from the Interlake–Eastern health region, linked to the outbreak at the Kin Place
• a female in her 90s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Fairview Home
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The amount of COVID related fines is down again compared to last week.
In the province's weekly COVID enforcement update they say 48 tickets were issued between December 7th and 13th.
Broken down seven $5,000 tickets were issued to businesses, 36 $1,296 tickets were given to individuals, and five $298 tickets were handed out for not wearing a mask in indoor public places.
The province is reminding Manitobans to remember the public health orders as gatherings in private residences remain a concern.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Around 6:15 this morning the Dauphin Fire Department was dispatched for a fire in Dauphin.
When fire crews arrived on scene at William Street, they found a single car garage engulfed in flames.
Crews quickly contained the fire, but the one vehicle stored in the garage is a complete loss.
The fire department says there weren’t any injuries.
Then, while crews were still on scene around 7:30, 911 reported another call on King Street. A second crew was dispatched for the report of smoke in a home. That incident was an accidental fire due to a cigarette and was quickly controlled.
The William Street fire is suspicious in nature and remains under investigation. The DFD asks that if anyone has any information regarding this incident, to contact the RCMP Detachment at 204-622-5050.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
An initiative to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions has made the City of Dauphin a trailblazer in Manitoba.
Dauphin is the first city in the province to become Climate Smart Certified, according to Director of Public Works & Operations Bill Brenner.
“What we’re looking at doing is managing the city’s operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”
Three years of tracking emissions at city-run facilities have enabled city staff to develop a GHG reduction plan, which was submitted and approved — making Dauphin ‘Climate Smart Certified’.
“Compared to the 2017 baseline, the City of Dauphin has reduced emissions by 18%,” says the report from Climate Smart.
“In conversation with council, we plan to continue with the reduction plan and will continue each year to further look at our GHG emissions.”
Brenner explains the City will initially focus on the low-hanging fruit:
- Idling policies with city vehicles and equipment
- New controls with HVAC systems
- SMART thermostats for the CIty’s smaller buildings to reduce GHG emissions associated with using natural gas and propane for heating.
Brenner says one of the greatest potential reductions in GHG emissions by the City of Dauphin would involve acquiring an electric garbage truck.
“Whether or not that can happen this year is still up in the air because they’re not generally available yet — but it would be a huge drop in GHG emissions if we could get that electric garbage truck.”
Brenner credits Steve Sobering for starting the city on this journey, who formerly worked as the energy manager. Sobering enrolled the City in the Climate Smart process and started the process of collecting data.
The Director of Public Works also credited Dauphin Recreation Services general manager Ryan Vanderheyden for having done “a tremendous job collecting GHG emission data for buildings”.
Brenner says the Climate Smart report will soon be on the City’s website.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba is starting off the week with another 241 new cases of COVID-19, and nine more deaths.
The recently announced deaths include a man in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region, as well as 6 individuals over the age of 80 in Winnipeg care homes.
The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.
Today, Dr. Brent Roussin reiterated the importance of keeping contacts to a minimum over the holidays, saying “if we gather over these coming weeks, we’re going to see an escalation in cases. Try to maintain our household contacts as our only contacts, as much as possible.”
“We’re going to celebrate differently this year.”
He says we’re starting to see some trends of our numbers coming down, adding “if we let our guards down and have gatherings, even on just one day, we’re set up for a lot of transmission and we’ll see the results of that a week or two after the holidays.”
With the improvements in overall case numbers, Roussin says it’s encouraging but that he expected to see more of a downward trend.
“I’m still concerned with the test positivity rate … but we’ve managed to change our trajectory away from that worst-case scenario.”
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is now 21,264.
There are 5,791 active cases in Manitoba and 14,974 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 303 people in hospital with 39 people in intensive care due to COVID-19. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 499.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.6% provincially and 13% in Winnipeg.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 10 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 23 cases in the Northern health region
• 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 38 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 158 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (4), Riding Mountain (10), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (44), Duck Mountain (18), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (5), and Whitemud (1). The Agassiz Mountain health district no longer has any active cases. Brandon has 142 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 36, according to the province’s latest update.
Public health officials advise nine additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including:
• a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Park Manor Personal Care Home
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Fred Douglas Lodge
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud region, linked to the outbreak at the Rest Haven Nursing Home
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A man from Dauphin and two individuals from Pine Creek First Nation are facing charges after an alleged armed robbery in Pine River this weekend.
RCMP say two males wearing masks and carrying a rifle entered the business on 1st Avenue, at around 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.
The two suspects demanded money, cigarettes, and liquor before fleeing on an ATV. RCMP set up roadblocks in the area after an employee reported the incident to police.
RCMP located the ATV on Highway 20 and Highway 272 near Camperville, but the ATV fled into a nearby field.
A police dog helped locate the suspects with the firearm and stolen items.
James Flatfoot, 33, of Dauphin has been charged with:
• Robbery with a Firearm
• Disguised with Intent to Commit and Offence
• Flight from Peace Officer
• Weapons Possession Contrary to Order
• Possession of a Firearm when Unauthorized
• Operation While Prohibited
• Fail to Comply x3
A 16-year-old male from Pine Creek First Nation has been charged with:
• Robbery with a Firearm
• Disguised with Intent to Commit and Offence
• Weapons Possession Contrary to Order
• Possession of a Firearm when Unauthorized
• Fail to Comply x2
A 20-year-old male, of Pine Creek First Nation, will be facing a charge of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.
RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
