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Manitoba health care workers can now make appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Eligible health care workers can book an appointment to be immunized at a clinic starting Wednesday, December 16th.
In order to be eligible for the vaccine, health care workers must have direct contact with patients and meet the following criteria:
- work in critical care units, born on or before Dec. 31, 1970;
- work in acute care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1960;
- work in long term care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1960; or
- be assigned to COVID-19 immunization clinics.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved by Health Canada earlier this week, and Manitoba is set to get an initial 1,950 doses, enough to immunize about 900 people (with 2 doses each).
More information about additional clinics will be provided as soon as possible and will be based on deliveries of vaccine to the province.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Canada-U.S. border closure has been extended for another 30 days.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the border will remain closed until at least January 21st.
The border has been closed since March, and is open to essential travel only including the trucking industry and health care workers in border communities.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A man from Waywayseecappo First Nation is facing assault charges after an incident early this week.
On Monday, Dec. 7 around 10:30 a.m., Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) officers responded to reports that a woman had been aggressively assaulted.
Responding officers say the 25-year-old victim informed them she was attacked by her ex-boyfriend who allegedly broke into her home through a window, assaulting and choking her.
The victim described the suspect as extremely intoxicated and in possession of a knife.
Police located the suspect shortly after, where he was arrested and taken into custody.
A 28-year-old man from Waywayseecappo First Nation faces charges of assault with a weapon, unlawfully dwelling in a house, mischief under $5000 and failing to comply with a release order, among other charges.
The suspect was held in custody and scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
A number of outdoor activities are still on the table for Manitobans to enjoy during code red restrictions.
Public health officials have provided some guidelines for safely enjoying the physical & mental health benefits of the outdoors, while limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Activities like cross country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, hiking and running are all allowed — as long as group sizes are no more than five people (there are group-size exemptions for families larger than five).
Manitobans are urged by the province to gather only with people they live with — but people from different households are allowed to gather outdoors in groups of five or less, as long as they maintain two metres distancing and cover their coughs.
Manitoba has no mask requirements for outdoor public places — but Dr. Brent Roussin explains there is still a risk of transmission with prolonged contact in more crowded outdoor settings.
The province says it’s okay if there are other groups in your vicinity, as long as people enjoying the outdoors stay within their groups and maintain physical distancing.
The current public health orders prohibit the use of dressing rooms, warming shacks and other indoor facilities associated with outdoor sporting that would provide an enclosed space and increase the risk of transmission.
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms is asked to stay at home under current health orders.
Code red restrictions were recently extended through the holidays, set to expire January 8 — although health officials have indicated that timeline could be adjusted depending on how the COVID situation evolves.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba has passed the 20,000 case mark, adding 447 new COVID-19 cases and 14 more deaths today.
Manitoba has a total of 20,392 cases with 5,517 considered active and 14,410 recovered.
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:
- 43 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
- 136 cases in the Northern health region;
- 35 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 40 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
- 193 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (4, down from 7), Riding Mountain (11), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (29), Duck Mountain (21), Asessippi (3), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (2), Agassiz Mountain (1). Brandon has 116 active cases, up from 98.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 28 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 38.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.8 percent provincially and 13.2 percent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m.
There are 297 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 40 in intensive care.
Public health officials advise 14 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today, including:
- a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 70s from the Interlake-Eastern health region
- a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to an outbreak at the Health Science Centre GD4
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Saul & Claribel Simkin Centre
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home
- a male in his 90s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region and linked to the outbreak at Rest Haven Nursing Home
- a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and
- a female in her 100s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region and linked to the outbreak at Villa Youville Personal Care Home
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Provincial officials are asking Manitobans to avoid gathering with people they don’t live with this holiday season.
Premier Brian Pallister was emotional last week as he declared himself “the guy who’s stealing Christmas to keep you safe.”
As we get closer to the holidays, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin is making the public health recommendations clear: don’t travel, don’t gather, and don’t have people over at your house who don’t normally live there.
“Everyone should celebrate with members of their household only.”
"Limit contacts as much as you reasonably can", says Dr. Roussin
Roussin says there are some exemptions to the gathering rules for those who live alone.
“We want to ensure that [people who live alone] do have the ability of face time with other people. But all of this comes with some risk, right? The more contacts you have, the more risk there is. That’s the interpretation of the orders. Our messaging is to limit your contacts, as much as you reasonably can, to people of your household.”
Under current public health orders, someone who lives alone in Manitoba may designate one person to come spend time with them — and they may also visit that person's household, as well.
Drive-in Christmas Mass
This week health officials announced the extension of Code Red measures until January 8th, and also made some slight adjustments to the orders.
Drive-in style events, like church services, have now been given the green light by the province.
Under the revised orders, holiday-themed items like Christmas decorations are now allowed to be sold in-store.
Although the holidays will look much different this year, that’s not exactly dampening the Christmas spirit — a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute shows the same number of Canadians are looking forward to the holiday season compared to last year.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba’s top doctor announced another 13 deaths and 293 new cases of COVID-19 today.
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:
- 39 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
- 41 cases in the Northern health region;
- 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 49 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 152 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (7), Riding Mountain (11), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (22), Duck Mountain (21), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (2). Brandon has 98 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 28 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 38.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.3 percent provincially and 13.9 percent in Winnipeg.
Manitoba now has 19,947 cases with 5,380 active and 14,116 recovered.
There are 298 people in hospital with the virus and 43 in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba is 451.
Public health officials advise 13 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:
- a male in his 70s from the Interlake–Eastern health region
- a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Villa Youville personal care home
- a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
- 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 Charleswood Care Centre
- a male in his 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 Park Manor Care Home
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Park Manor Care Home
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre and
- a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The province is eliminating the shopping hour restrictions that force businesses to close after 6 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays. Finance Minister Scott Fielding made the announcement today saying the new legislation will be in effect starting Saturday, December 12.
“Given the current public health restrictions in place to protect Manitobans, we want to provide flexibility to businesses and customers and allow more opportunity for curbside pickup and delivery options as well as longer in-person shopping hours to minimize crowds. During this critical time for retailers across the province, we believe these updated laws will help many businesses with additional revenues as we head into the holiday season.”
All businesses in Manitoba now have the choice to remain open later on Sundays and during statutory holidays, but municipalities have the authority to pass bylaws if they prefer to keep some restrictions in place.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Retail Council of Canada and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce wrote an open letter in mid-November, recommending the government make the change.
The province will maintain its current retail hour restrictions on Remembrance Day.
Manitoba was the only Western Canadian province to restrict retail business hours on Sundays and holidays.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Cam Abrey's father was a business owner, a firefighter, and he was on a number of boards. When Cam settled in Dauphin more than 20 years ago, he wanted to give back to the community just like his father did so he joined the Dauphin Fire Department as a volunteer and he walked through the doors for the first time on December 8, 1999.
Less than 10 years later, Abrey worked full-time at the department as he was hired as a Fire Prevention Officer doing fire inspections within Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin. He also provided public education and assisted the Fire Chief.
On February 24, 2011, Abrey received another promotion and he is now going on ten years in the position of being Fire Chief for the Dauphin Fire Department.
"It really is quite an honour. To be in the position I am in, I get to give back to the community, meet, and work with so many great people," said Abrey. "We are all in this together and it's such a humbling experience."
Abrey also celebrated his 21st anniversary with the department earlier this week and as he says, he loves what he does.
"I always make a joke with the kids, you can either grow up or be a firefighter, but you can't be both," ended Abrey. "Every firefighter is just a giant kid at heart. I think every little kid pictures themselves in that truck when the fire truck drives by and here I am, living the dream."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
On the same day Health Canada approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine, Manitoba health officials laid out their early planning for the province’s vaccine rollout.
“We will focus our initial immunization efforts on those most at risk of COVID-19 including seniors, those working in the health-care system and in long-term care facilities, and Indigenous peoples,” said Premier Brian Pallister.
He confirmed the first 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive next week — enough to immunize about 900 recipients (with two doses each).
The Pfizer vaccine — which showed 95% effectiveness in trials — requires two doses to confer protection from the virus. The second dose is required three weeks after the first inoculation.
Another 228,000 of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to arrive in Manitoba between now and March 31 — enough to vaccinate about 7% of the population.
“There is only a very limited supply of these new vaccines, and very likely there will only be a limited supply of these vaccines available before the spring. We can not let our guard down,” said the Premier.
“The cavalry is not here yet, and we have to make sure that we’re defending one another.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Public health officials announced 18 more COVID-related deaths today, including an 80-year-old woman from the Grandview Personal Care Home.
Health officials also announced 280 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the provincial total to 19,655.
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:
- 27 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
- 19 cases in the Northern health region;
- 15 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 26 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 193 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (12), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (21), Duck Mountain (22), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (3), Agassiz Mountain (2). Brandon has 98 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 35.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.5 percent provincially and 14.5 percent in Winnipeg.
Of Manitoba’s cases, 5,348 are considered active, and 13,869 have recovered.
The number of people in hospital is 300, with 38 in intensive care. The number of deaths is 438.
Public health officials advise 18 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:
- a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Health Science Centre unit GA3
- a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 60s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Victoria General Hospital unit 4S
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Maples Long Term Care Home
- a male in his 80’s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Park Manor Care Home
- a female in her 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Grandview Personal Care Home
- a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Misericordia Health Centre's Transitional Unit
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Park Manor Care Home and
- a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
