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Walking like a penguin may help you stay upright in slippery conditions today, as a blanket of ice has fallen over some parts of the Parkland.
A message from Alberta Health Services suggests the "Penguin Walk” can be a helpful technique to avoid falling on the ice.
It involves taking shorter, shuffle-like steps, keeping your centre of gravity over your feet as much as possible, and pointing your feet slightly out — just like the adorable aquatic bird that's native to the southern hemisphere.
November is "Falls Prevention Month" — Prairie Mountain Health has also provided safe winter walking tips on their website, which emphasize choosing proper footwear, putting sand on your steps and sidewalk, and to use caution when entering/exiting your vehicle.
A freezing rain warning was issued Sunday morning for the Parkland and other areas in central Manitoba -- calling for freezing rain that's expected to taper off Sunday night.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A powerful low-pressure system will impact the Prairies — as a potent winter storm will bring heavy snow, wind, and a risk of freezing rain on Sunday.
As a result, Environment Canada has issued a number of weather warnings for the Parkland on Sunday.
Freezing Rain Warning
A freezing rain warning is in effect for areas including Dauphin, Winnipegosis, Russell, Minnedosa, Ste. Rose, Gladstone, and Ashern.
Freezing rain developing Sunday morning/afternoon is expected to taper off Sunday night.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous. Officials are asking the public to consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Winter Storm Warning
A winter storm warning has been issued for some Parkland communities — like Swan River, Duck Mountain, and Minitonas-Bowsman — along with large sections of northern Manitoba.
Moderate to heavy snow will begin in these more northern areas Sunday morning and continue through to Monday.
Snowfall totals as high as 30 to 50 cm are expected, and some regions will also see a mix of snow and freezing rain.
Weather warning issued by Environment Canada | Freezing rain warnings are in effect for more southern areas, while the north deals with winter storm warnings and a possible 30 to 50 cm of snow.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The deaths of seven people who contracted COVID-19 were reported on Saturday — the highest number in a single day for Manitoba.
All of the individuals are from the Winnipeg health region.
Another 271 new cases of COVID-19 were added, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 7,689.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 9.4% -- the test positivity rate in Winnipeg is 9.6%.
Today’s data shows:
• 31 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• 22 cases in the Northern health region;
• 23 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 39 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 156 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
Active Case Removed From Dauphin Health District
On Friday, the province reported an active case in the Dauphin health district. That has now been removed, bringing the district back to 9 total cases of COVID-19. All are recovered.
Dr. Brent Roussin has explained there are a few possibilities for why this happens.
Graphic courtesy of the Government of Manitoba
One possibility is that a person may not be a resident of that health district, and so the case is removed and updated to another district where they currently reside. Roussin says another possibility is a false positive test.
“Sometimes we have probable cases that are symptomatic and a close contact to another case that we just declare as a case, pending lab results, and if the lab result comes back negative then sometimes they’ll be removed.”
The following Parkland health districts currently have active cases listed on the province’s online database: Swan River (10), Porcupine Mountain (3), Asessippi (7), Duck Mountain (1), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (8), and Agassiz Mountain (1). There are 32 active cases in Brandon.
The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 63 active cases of COVID-19.
There are 4,460 active cases and 3,126 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 159 people in hospital with 23 people in intensive care; and
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 103.
Province Focusing On Symptomatic Testing
Public health officials advise that in order to maintain the capacity for testing symptomatic people, testing appointments for people who are asymptomatic will not be booked unless directed by public health.
At this time, individuals who are not experiencing symptoms may be turned away from testing sites.
Employers are asked to only send employees for testing if they have symptoms or if testing has been recommended by public health officials.
On Monday the Southern Health region will join Winnipeg at 'critial' red on the Pandemic Response System.
Exposures in Prairie Mountain Health
The following possible exposures in the Prairie Mountain Health region have been reported by public health:
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Multiple sources have called the 2020 US presidential election in favour of democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Biden has defeated President Trump after reportedly winning Pennsylvania and securing 20 electoral votes — according to projections by the Associated Press and NBC News.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday morning, the Associated Press reports Biden has 284 electoral votes, passing the 270 needed to secure the presidency.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Environment Canada has issued a winter storm watch for much of the Parkland.
A powerful low-pressure system is set to bring significant snow and freezing rain to central and northern Manitoba beginning Sunday afternoon.
The watch is in effect for the following areas:
- Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
- Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
- Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
- Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
- Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
- Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
- R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
- R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
- R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
- R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park
Freezing rain will last into Sunday night and early Monday morning before transitioning into snow.
5 to 15 mm of freezing rain is expected, followed by about 10 to 20 cm of snow.
The system will clear the area by Monday evening.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Southern Health region will be moved to Critical (red) starting Monday, November 9.
The announcement came on Friday as Manitoba’s chief public health officer stressed that case numbers in the region — which includes Portage la Prairie — continue to move in the wrong direction, and that further action is required.
Changes in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region mirror those in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region including:
• Bars and restaurants will be closed except for take-out and delivery.
• Most retail will be reduced to 25 per cent capacity.
• Sports and recreation programming will be suspended.
• Gyms and fitness centres will have reduced capacity to 25 per cent and masks will be mandatory, even when exercising.
• Movie theatres and concert halls will close.
• Personal services have no change and stay at 50 per cent capacity.
• Faith-based gatherings are reduced to 15 per cent or 100 people, whichever is lower.
• Non-urgent and elective surgeries and diagnostics will continue at this time. Patients will be contacted directly if their scheduled surgeries or diagnostics tests are affected.
• In-patient visitation to hospitals or health centres will be suspended, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis for patients receiving end-of-life care, in labour and delivery, as well as in pediatrics.
• Designated family caregivers may continue to visit personal care homes. General visitation may be suspended with exceptions in place for end-of-life care. General visitation to outdoor visitation shelters will be implemented, once operational.
52 new cases of COVID-19 were added in the Southern Health region on Friday.
The City of Portage la Prairie has 20 active cases — recording one death and 61 total cases.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
The Dauphin Hospital Foundation (DHF) hosted its annual general meeting (AGM) virtually on Monday, October 26.
At the end of the AGM, the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Dauphin Hospital Foundation, Doug Deans, officially stepped down.
Doug Deans says there have been many key accomplishments over the past 15 years, and adds “the Foundation is in good hands as it works towards its mission of supporting and enhancing services and programs for Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Dauphin Personal Care Home and Dauphin Community Health Services Building.”
The Board presented Deans with a commemorative clock to acknowledge his many years of dedicated service to the Foundation.
The Board’s new Chair is Greg Thompson, while Malcom Strang serves as Vice-Chair.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Swan River’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing site has ceased operation, and a new indoor testing site will open next week.
The drive-thru site halted operation as of 1:00 p.m. Friday. The new indoor site will open on Monday, November 9th at 621 Main Street in Swan River.
The hours of operation will be Monday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
To make an appointment for a COVID test at both the Swan River and Dauphin designated testing sites call 1-855-268-4318 or click here.
To view directions and regular hours of operation at all PMH designated testing sites, visit the PMH website here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
There is now one active case listed in the Dauphin health district, following Friday’s update from public health in which several new cases were added in the Parkland area.
Graphic courtesy of the Government of Manitoba
Public health officials are also elevating the Southern Health region to the red ‘critical’ level on the Pandemic response system. New restrictions for the Southern Health region will take effect on Monday — closely mirroring the restrictions currently in effect for the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
A total of 243 new cases of the virus were recorded province-wide on Friday, along with five more deaths, including:
• a female in her 40s from the Northern health region;
• a female in her 60s from the Interlake–Eastern region;
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Maples Manor;
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Victoria General Hospital; and
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Victoria General Hospital.
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is now 7,419. There are 4,286 active cases of COVID-19, and 3,037 people have recovered.
There are 161 people in hospital with 20 people in intensive care.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 96.
Today’s data shows:
• 17 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• 23 cases in the Northern health region;
• 15 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 52 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 136 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
New Cases Added In The Parkland
The following Parkland health districts currently have active cases listed on the province’s online database: Dauphin (1), Swan River (9), Porcupine Mountain (4), Asessippi (6), Duck Mountain (1), Little Saskatchewan (1), Whitemud (8), and Agassiz Mountain (1). There are 25 active cases in Brandon.
The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 54 active cases of COVID-19.
New Exposures In Prairie Mountain Health
Some more potential exposures have been identified in Prairie Mountain Health.
Prairie Mountain Health advises a new appointment-based indoor COVID-19 testing site will open in Swan River on Monday, Nov. 9 and resume regular hours from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 621 Main St. (former CMHA Building). The designated drive-up testing site at the Swan Valley Primary Care Centre parking lot in Swan River will close at 1 p.m. today.
For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Bowsman man accused of ramming the gate of Rideau Hall and threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made another virtual appearance in court today.
Crown prosecutors told the court they're looking to set a date for a plea and sentencing.
His case will appear in court again on December 4th.
46-year-old Corey Hurren is facing 22 criminal charges after allegedly driving his truck through the gates of Trudeau’s home and uttering threats back on July 2nd.
Neither Trudeau nor Governor General Julie Payette were on the grounds during the incident.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A house fire earlier last month is now being investigated as arson by Neepawa RCMP.
On October 10, Neepawa RCMP responded to a house fully engulfed in flames on 2nd Ave in the town of Riding Mountain. The house was empty and there were no injuries.
An investigation has led police to suspect arson.
RCMP say that two suspects were seen in the yard of where the fire occurred between 10:36 pm and 11:28 pm that night. The suspects are seen moving around the yard and close to the house, and appear to be trying to hide.
During this time several flashes of flames are seen, coming from the west side of the home.
At 11:28 pm, the two suspects are seen leaving the area, walking east on 2nd Avenue.
The RCMP is asking the public for their assistance in this matter. If you have any information on these suspects, or this incident, please call Neepawa RCMP at 204-476-7340, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
