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The amount of COVID-related fines issued in Manitoba was down last week compared to the week prior.

A total of $122,046 in fines was handed out compared to the $181,574 the week before.

Nine of the tickets were issued to businesses, 53 to individuals, and 15 for not wearing a mask in indoor public places.

Since enforcement efforts began in April, a total of 913 warnings and 450 tickets have been issued, resulting in more than $683,000 in fines to businesses and individuals.

Fine amounts are set at $5,000 for businesses, $1,296 for individuals, and $298 for failing to wear a mask in indoor public places.

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Code red public health orders in Manitoba have been slightly adjusted and also extended through the holidays.

Premier Brian Pallister and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin provided the update in a joint press conference on Tuesday.

“Our modelling has shown the Critical level, or red, restrictions have helped us avoid even higher case numbers right now,” said Roussin, “but our numbers are still too high and now is not the time to let up."


Changes To Public Health Orders

The changes to public health orders include:

• allowing thrift stores to open with some capacity limits, to allow access to second-hand clothing and other items
• ensuring acupuncture and manual osteopathy practices are allowed to open to align with other health services
• clarifying the operation of food banks and food hamper services
• allowing private residences to allow legal services, landlord access and access for home businesses
• encouraging safe outdoor physical activity for individuals and immediate households only by providing guidance to clarify that people not from the same household need to keep two metres of distance between them and that gathering sizes must not exceed five people
• adding school supplies as an essential item under the restrictions to retail services
• allowing drive-in events as a temporary measure subject to compliance with the restrictions, and cars must contain members from one household only and no one may leave the car while at the event
• permitting the Winnipeg Jets to train in Manitoba in preparation for an eventual NHL decision on a 2021 playing season

The updated measures will also allow the in-store purchase of holiday decorations like garlands, ornaments and religious items like menorahs and candles.

The updated measures will go into effect Saturday, Dec. 12 and will expire on Jan. 8, 2021.

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The province has announced 245 new cases and 13 more deaths due to COVID-19.

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:

  • 34 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
  • 23 cases in the Northern health region;
  • 29 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
  • 33 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
  • 126 cases in the Winnipeg health region. 

Public health officials are advising of a possible COVID-19 outbreak at the Swan River Kal Tire on November 28th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The outbreak at the  Ashern-Lakeshore General Hospital has been declared over.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (13), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (21, up from 11), Duck Mountain (23), Asessippi (3), Little Saskatchewan (5), Whitemud (4), Agassiz Mountain (2).  Brandon has 94 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 37.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.3 percent provincially and 13.9 percent in Winnipeg.

Manitoba now has 19,376 cases, with 5,379 considered active and 13,577 recovered.

There are 311 people in hospital with 38 in intensive care. The number of deaths is 420.

Public health officials advise 13 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

  • a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region;
  • a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre;
  • a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre;
  • a female in her 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 the Charleswood Care Centre;
  • a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region; 
  • a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Greendale Estates;
  • a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at  Rest Haven Care Home;  
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home;
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region;
  • a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Park Manor Care Home;  
  • a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Misericordia Health Centre’s Transitional Unit; and
  • a female in her 100s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Fairview Personal Care Home.  
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The provincial government is expanding the $5,000 Manitoba Bridge Grant Program to protect more small businesses.

The initial intake of the grant included businesses with physical storefronts such as restaurants, bars, recreation and sport facilities, museums, theatres and organizations such as charities, not-for-profits and faith-based organizations. 

This second intake will now include small businesses that include but aren’t limited to, event planners, photographers, artists and tradespeople who do not operate a retail location.

Eligible full-time businesses that were impacted by Manitoba COVID-19 public health orders in effect as of Nov. 12, 2020 or any revisions to those orders will receive a grant in the amount equal to 10 per cent of their most recent calendar year revenues, to a maximum contribution of $5,000.

The province allocated 100 million dollars for the first intake and this second intake includes another 100 million dollars.

The deadline to apply is December 31st and applications for the second stream open up tomorrow.

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A new appointment-based respiratory clinic is coming to Russell this week.

The clinic will open Thursday, Dec. 10th at the George P. Bulezuik Centre (106 Shell River Ave. S.)

The clinic is for people who have been experiencing respiratory symptoms for two weeks or less, including sore throat, runny nose, cough and congestion, and feel they need to be seen by a physician but don’t need emergency care.

Hours of operation will be Mondays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Referrals are not needed to attend the clinic.

Russell’s site will also be open for appointment-based COVID-19 testing Monday to Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

To book an appointment for the respiratory clinic or COVID testing, you can call (204) 638-2191.

Prairie Mountain Health also has respiratory clinics operating in Dauphin, Swan River, Neepawa, and Brandon.

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An orphaned black bear from Ochre River was rescued after spending 2 days alone in a tree.

Some concerned people saw the cub and notified authorities.

Conservation staff caught and took the cub, which should have been hibernating, to Black Bear Rescue Manitoba.

The tiny 10.5 to 11-month-old cub weighs in at 18 pounds, which is the size of the cubs at the rescue in the spring when they were 3 or 4 months old.

Cubs its age with a mother typically way more than double, at 40-50 lbs.

In a Facebook post, the organization says they believe the cub was orphaned earlier in the summer and it’s amazing he survived so long on his own.

They add that aside from being thin and dehydrated, the cub is doing well.

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A family of four could be paying 695 dollars more for their groceries in 2021.

According to the 2021 Food Price Report, rising bread, meat, and vegetable prices will push grocery bills 5 per cent higher.

Meat prices could jump as much as 6.5 per cent.

The total grocery bill for a family of four will be 14 thousand dollars for the year, on average.

The overall grocery bill increase would be the highest since the report started 11 years ago.

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Dauphin RCMP has come away with the bragging rights after a friendly competition against the Dauphin Fire Department (DFD).

Both parties were collecting food donations between Dec. 3rd to the 6th for the Dauphin and District Community Food Bank (DDCFB).

The RCMP’s ‘Cram the Cruiser’ initiative collected about 1,100 kg of non-perishable food during the four day period — besting the 500 kg collected by the DFD in their 'Pack the Pumper' initiative.

“It was definitely a fun competition, great spirit,” says Dauphin Fire Chief Cam Abrey, adding “it was a great effort by the community as well with all their donations.”

Both the Dauphin RCMP and the fire department went out collecting donations on Saturday, which Cst. Schirmacher says highlighted just how well the community came together for a good cause.

“We got calls all the way out to Gilbert Plains to do pickups, it’s amazing. It’s wonderful to be part of such a great community.”

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Twelve deaths due to COVID-19 have been announced in Manitoba on Monday -- including a man in his 70s at the Grandview Personal Care Home.

This individual is the first death reported at the Grandview site dealing with a COVID outbreak. The province says 30 positive COVID cases have been identified there, with 21 among residents. 

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

The chief nursing officer with Shared Health, Lanette Siragusa, says a paramedic has been deployed at the Grandview PCH to assist the staff as needed. The Grandview Hospital has also suspended some services while staff are redeployed to assist with the outbreak at the Grandview PCH.

An outbreak has been declared today at the Swan Valley Health Centre in Swan River.


Public Health Improves Accuracy Of COVID Data

Another 325 cases of COVID-19 were announced in Manitoba on Monday, bringing the province’s total to 19,131.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.7% provincially and 14.6% in Winnipeg.

Dr. Brent Roussin says work has been done to improve the accuracy of the province’s COVID-19 data. “We’ve reviewed older cases and closed a number of them to reflect that those individuals have recovered.”

About 4,000 active cases have been removed from the province’s data today — and there are now 5,462 active cases in Manitoba according to public health (compared to the 9,216 reported yesterday) and 13,262 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 310 people in hospital with 39 people in intensive care due to COVID-19.

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 407.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 38 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 37 cases in the Northern health region
• 20 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 39 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 191 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (7, up from 6), Riding Mountain (14, down from 19), Swan River (2, down from 10), Porcupine Mountain (11, down from 15), Duck Mountain (21, down from 29), Asessippi (3, down from 11), Little Saskatchewan (4, down from 11), Whitemud (5, down from 23), Agassiz Mountain (1).  Brandon’s number of active cases in the province’s data is now 92, down from 171.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 36.

Public health officials advise 12 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

• a female in her 60s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Health Science Centre unit GA3
• a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a male in his 70s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Grandview Personal Care Home
• a female in her 70s from the Interlake–Eastern health region
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Golden Links Lodge
• a female in her 80s from the Northern health region, linked to the outbreak at Acute Care Inpatient Unit of The Pas Health Complex, St. Anthony's General Hospital
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home
• a male in his 90s from the Northern health region

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Up to 249 thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccine is expected by the federal government before the end of the year.

Reports say Pfizer will deliver its first shipment of doses after federal regulators approve the vaccine, which could be in a matter of days.

This would allow vulnerable Canadians and healthcare workers start to be vaccinated by the end of 2020.

The military will be holding a dress rehearsal today as part of the federal government's plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines once they are approved.

Manitoba says the first freezer able to store the Pfizer vaccine at low temperatures has been delivered and installed, with another four on the way. 

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After being closed for the past 3 months, the emergency department at the Roblin and District Health Centre has reopened.

Prairie Mountain Health explained the shutdown of the emergency department back in September was a result of staffing shortages due to retirements, maternity leaves, and staff departures.

Petr Kresta, Chief Operating Officer, Diagnostic Services for Shared Health says the reopening is a result of recruitment to fill vacancies in the Russell and Roblin area.

The emergency department hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

X-rays were among some of the diagnostic services relocated to the Russell Health Centre when the shutdown took effect September 4th.

A Shared Health spokesperson says the full complement of diagnostic services will resume at the Roblin hospital when enough staff are recruited to the area.

Click here for a notice from PMH with more details.

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