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The province of Manitoba has announced that schools will no longer provide close contact notification and notification letters on individual cases but will provide reports of absenteeism through their regular notification channels to their school community.

Schools will be monitoring student and staff absenteeism rates and self-reported cases. However, public health will continue to report confirmed cases through the online dashboard and monitor confirmed cases in schools to see if there is evidence of increased transmission above levels expected in the community.

Recommendations will be made by public health on an individual basis for schools that show above-average levels of transmission, absenteeism, case counts, or operational concerns. These recommendations could include periods of increased rapid antigen testing or reducing high-risk activities. In cases where COVID-19 activity continues to increase, more extreme measures, such as a seven-day remote learning period, could be taken.

Students and staff who test positive are still required to follow all provincial self-isolation guidelines. Those who are exposed at school can continue to attend as long as they are asymptomatic. 

The minister noted the announcement builds on a number of actions and investments to protect students and staff in schools including: 

  • Implementing a rapid testing program for asymptomatic teachers, staff, and kindergarten to Grade 12 students at Manitoba schools experiencing high case numbers or high levels of absenteeism; 
  • Expanding rapid testing for symptomatic staff at schools to include vaccinated and unvaccinated staff; 
  • Moving schools to the Restricted (Orange) level on the Pandemic Response System to ensure enhanced cleaning measures are in place and schools are ensuring two meters of physical distancing to the greatest extent possible; 
  • Providing 500,000 rapid tests for students from kindergarten to Grade 6 to test for COVID-19 as they return to school; 
  • Providing $6 million for medical masks that meet Health Canada performance requirements as well as other personal protective equipment; 
  • Offering COVID-19 vaccinations at schools including after-school clinics for students, teachers, and community members; 
  • Providing an additional $6.8 million in funding to support over 200 short-term operating improvements related to air purification, including filters, units, and systems; 
  • Investing in mental health supports for students and staff; and 
  • Providing $45 million in the Safe Schools Fund to help address COVID-19 related expenditures in schools, of which $30 million has been allocated by school divisions to support learning impacts, mental health, and well-being including hiring additional teachers, educational assistants, and clinicians. 

For more information on COVID-19 and measures in place to address the spread of the virus in schools click here.

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Brandon Police announced that their organized crime unit along with the help of the operational support and crime suppression unit have arrested four people in a drug bust on Tuesday.

Police seized a total of 50 grams of meth, 20 grams of fentanyl, $1,800 in cash and a .22 calibre rifle with ammunition from a house on 26th Street in Brandon.

Multiple people face charges including:

  • A 35-year-old female was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and possession of property obtained by crime and will appear in court on March 10
  • a 45-year-old male was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and will be in court on March 3
  • a 48-year-old male was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order
  • a 42-year-old male was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and unauthorized possession of a firearm and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
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UPDATE: According to the Brandon Police Service, Tara Elk has been located and is safe.

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The Brandon Police are asking for public help in locating a missing vulnerable person. Tara Dawn Elk is 22-years-old and described as having long black hair and brown eyes, 175 cm, 50 kg. It's unknown what she is currently wearing.

Elk's family hasn't seen her since Saturday and it is believed she may have traveled to the Roblin area and might be looking for a way back to Brandon.

Anyone with information about Elk has been asked to contact the Brandon Police Service at (204)729-2345.

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This morning, Swan River Fire Department was called to a fire at the Co-op Agro Centre, on Highway 83 south of Swan River. Upon arrival, crews discovered a maintenance shed engulfed in flames.

According to a Co-op spokesperson, the damage was contained to the single building and its contents, there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and the Swan Valley Co-op is cooperating with authorities. The cost of damages is unknown at this time.

The majority of the Agro Centre operations continue as normal today.

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Dauphin Beach has a new lottery winner from a recent LOTTO MAX draw.

Wayne Heide, from Dauphin Beach, won $100,000 from a LOTTO MAX and EXTRA ticket he purchased at the Super Thrifty Pharmacy, right here in Dauphin, for the draw on December 31, 2021.

Heide said he plans to share some of the winnings with his family before figuring out what to do with the rest.

He won the $100,000 by matching the last six digits of the EXTRA number on the draw.

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Dallas Genaille will be back in a Dauphin courtroom on Tuesday, January 18.

The Swan River man was in court earlier this week after being charged in connection with a drug and firearm bust in the town. 

Last February, RCMP searched a home and seized drugs believed to be cocaine and crystal meth, firearms, cash and drug-related paraphernalia. As a result, the 33-year-old faces several charges. 

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A Winnipeg restaurant is facing a monstrous fine for repeated alleged breaches of COVID-19 restrictions.

The province says the owners of Monstrosity Burger are on the hook for a fine of up to one million dollars.

The burger restaurant, and the adjoining Tuxedo Village Family Restaurant, which is run by the same owners, have been hit with seven counts of violating the Public Health Act.

Last fall, Monstrosity Burger was fined thousands of dollars for allowing unvaccinated and unmasked patrons to eat inside the restaurant.

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The province of Manitoba’s top health officials were joined by Premier Heather Stefanson this afternoon to discuss the latest COVID-19 update.

Premier Stefanson was joined by Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon as well as Dr. Jazz Atwal, the deputy chief provincial public health officer and Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of the province's vaccine task force.

During the conference, Dr. Atwal mentioned that the COVID-19 virus is no longer an emerging illness and it is here to stay. He went on to say that the ability to contain the virus at this time is limited and it is very likely that all Manitobans will be exposed to the virus in the coming weeks.

Atwal also said that the province will no longer be focusing on the individual cases of COVID-19 but will be trying to manage the risk of the virus spreading in the community as a whole.

Minister Gordon talked during the conference about the fact that one-third of COVID hospitalizations in the province is due to COVID-19 but two-thirds of those in hospital are there for other medical reasons but tested positive later on while in hospital.

Gordon went on to say that the province is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a severe decline in mental health throughout the province and across Canada as a whole. She urged those in Manitoba to reach out to the programs available for crisis and non-crisis mental health services for all ages by heading to the provincial website to find the program for your region. 

You can find the list of those services here.

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Manitoba Liquor Marts will start charging people for paper bags at all of their stores. Starting February 1st, stores will begin charging 10 cents for a medium-size bag.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries says the policy is intended to eliminate waste and reduce their environmental footprint. They hope this change will encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags.

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Yesterday there were three separate men that appeared in Dauphin courtrooms on various charges.

  • Dallas Genaille from Swan River made another court appearance in connection to a drug and firearm bust last year. When RCMP Searched a home in Swan River last February, they found drugs believed to be cocaine and crystal meth, firearms, cash, and drug paraphernalia. Genaille will be back in Dauphin Court next Tuesday where he faces charges including two counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose.
  • 30-year-old Sean Beaulieu made another appearance after he admitted to a robbery at a store on Main Street in Dauphin last April where he sprayed the employee with bear mace, stole some items, and fled on foot. Beaulieu had his case adjourned to April 5th.
  • 24-year-old Jayden Catcheway of the Skownan First Nation made another appearance after being charged for Manslaughter in connection to the death of a 31-year-old man on the reserve in June 2020. Catcheway was remanded to Dauphin Court on January 25th.
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Manitoba is launching an expanded rapid test program to allow staff in certain sectors who have symptoms to return to work sooner.

According to Families Minister Rochelle Squires;

“Tests will be provided for all designated staff in critical service areas who are symptomatic and work directly with clients and vulnerable populations.”

According to the news release today, eligibility for rapid antigen tests is being expanded to include all designated staff in critical service areas who are symptomatic and work:

  • in early learning and child-care facilities;
  • with Community Living disABILITY Services service providers;
  • with child and family services group care providers;
  • in homeless and family violence shelters;
  • in Manitoba Families, working in front-line positions with clients; and
  • as school teachers or staff with direct and ongoing or prolonged contact with kindergarten to Grade 12 students.

The full news release from the provincial government can be found here.

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