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Four people are facing drug charges after RCMP executed a search warrant at a home in Peguis First Nation on Tuesday.

Officers found around 38 grams of cocaine, cash, and other drug paraphernalia.

A 54-year-old woman and three men aged 56, 33, and 30 – all from Peguis First Nation – were arrested and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The four have been released and will be in court on March 16th.

RCMP continue to investigate.

Prairie Mountain Health has given an update on their COVID test site and respiratory clinic hours over the holidays.

DAUPHIN

COVID-19 Test Site (Regular hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., closed for an hour at lunch)

Former Potoski Medical Clinic:
Thursday, Dec. 24: 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26: CLOSED.
Sunday, Dec. 27: 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021: 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Respiratory Clinic (Regular hours are Monday-Friday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

DRHC Main front Entrance location:
Thursday, Dec. 24: CLOSED
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26: CLOSED
Monday, Dec. 28: CLOSED
Thursday, Dec. 31: CLOSED
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED

SWAN RIVER

COVID-19 Test Site (Regular hours are Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

621 Main St. (on the corner beside The Brick):
Thursday, Dec. 24: 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26: 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 27: CLOSED
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED

Respiratory Clinic (Regular hours 3:00p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays)

Primary Care Centre location:
Thursday, Dec. 24: CLOSED
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26: CLOSED
Monday, Dec. 28: 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 31: CLOSED
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED

NEEPAWA

COVID-19 Test Site (Regular hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

Former Co-Op Building:
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Monday, Dec. 28: 12:30 until 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED

Respiratory Clinic (Regular hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

Former Co-Op Building:
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Monday, Dec. 28: CLOSED
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED

RUSSELL

COVID-19 Test Site (Regular hours are Monday-Friday 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

George P. Buleziuk Centre:
Thursday, Dec. 24 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 25 CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26 CLOSED
Monday, Dec. 28 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 CLOSED

Respiratory Clinic (Regular hours are Monday and Thursday 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

George P. Buleziuk Centre:
Thursday, Dec. 24: CLOSED
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26: CLOSED
Monday, Dec. 28: CLOSED
Tuesday, Dec. 29: 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 30: CLOSED
Thursday, Dec. 31: CLOSED
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED

BRANDON

COVID-19 Test Site

Van Horne Drive-thru location behind Manitoba Emergency Services College:
Thursday, Dec. 24: 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 25: 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. 
Saturday, Dec. 26: 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 27: 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 31: 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.

Dynacare Brandon Keystone Centre location:
Thursday, Dec. 24: 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 25: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 26: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 27: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Respiratory Clinic

BRHC Nurses Residence Gym location:
Thursday, Dec. 24: CLOSED
Friday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
Saturday, Dec. 26: CLOSED
Sunday, Dec. 27: 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021: CLOSED
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021: 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

For more information on PMH COVID testing and respiratory clinic sites, click here.

A woman is facing charges after stabbing an RCMP officer in Portage la Prairie last week.

On Dec. 26 at around 9:30 a.m., RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious person in a backyard on Wilkinson Crescent.

An officer found a 40-year-old woman walking on Crescent Road East, and realized the woman was not dressed for the cold weather and that she may be under the influence of a drug.

RCMP say the officer tried to help the woman, but she was unable to answer any questions or identify herself.

The woman tried to flee and fell to the ground, and stabbed the officer in the right thigh during her arrest, according to a release from RCMP.

The officer was able to arrest the woman, and found a capped needle as well as a large homemade knife in her waistband.

Additional RCMP officers arrived at the scene and took the woman into custody, while the injured officer went to the hospital where he was treated and released.

The woman remains in custody and will face a number of charges including Assaulting a Police Officer, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose.

Manitoba added 130 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, along with 2 more deaths.

The deaths include a woman in her 70s from the Northern health region linked to an outbreak at the Thomson General Hospital, and a woman in her 80s linked to the outbreak at Brandon’s Fairview Personal Care Home.

Case numbers have been improving over the past few days — and Dr. Jazz Atwal was asked what Manitoba’s case numbers would have to look like before public health would consider relaxing some restrictions.

“It’s a hard question to answer. It’s not just about case numbers, it’s [also] about the acute care system. We could have small numbers of cases, but if they’re among vulnerable populations, the hospitalizations would be high. I have no black and white answers for you right now — there’s a lot of variables at play.”

When it comes to relaxing restrictions, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the test positivity rate (out of all tests conducted, how many came back positive for COVID-19) should remain at 5% or lower for at least 14 days, before lifting lockdowns.

Today's COVID Numbers

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12.6% provincially and 11.9% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is now 24,513.

There are 4,444 active cases and 19,408 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

248 people are in hospital with active COVID-19, and 89 people who are no longer infectious are also in hospital as they continue to require care (337 hospitalizations total).

There are 32 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19, and also four people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (36 ICU patients total).

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 661.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

• 11 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 11 cases in the Northern health region
• eight cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• eight cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 92 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 (4), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (88), Duck Mountain (2), Asessippi (3), Little Saskatchewan (4), and Agassiz Mountain (10). Brandon has 41 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 31 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 34.

A total of $82,288 in tickets were handed out to COVID-19 rule-breakers in the province last week.

From Dec. 21 - 27 tickets were issued to three Manitoba businesses, 51 individuals, and 4 tickets for not wearing a mask.

COVID-19 fines are set at $5,000 for businesses, $1,296 for individuals, and $298 for not wearing a mask.

Since COVIID-19 enforcement measures began back in April, a total of $919,318 in fines have been issued.

The City of Dauphin has released the schedule for waste, recycling, and yard waste pickup for 2021.

Keep in mind there will be no pickup in the Day 4 area this Friday (January 1st) due to the New Years holiday.

As a result, collection in the Day 4 area this week will be pushed to Monday, January 4th — before getting back to the regular collection schedule in the new year.

Looking ahead, yard waste collection will begin April 13th, occurring every two weeks until finishing up October 29.

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Tim Hortons has put together a Top 10 list of 2020's most popular donut and coffee orders.

Nationally, the Boston Cream donut proved most popular, followed by the Apple Fritter, and old fashioned plain in the number 3 spot.

In western Canada, the Apple Fritter took the number 1 spot as the most popular donut.

When it comes to the morning kick-start, Tim Hortons say the Double-Double was the most popular coffee order in the country, followed by a regular (one dairy, one sugar), and basic black coffee in third place.

Across Canada, the top 10 Tim Hortons donuts were: Boston Cream, Apple Fritter, Old Fashioned Plain, Honey Cruller, Chocolate Dip, Vanilla Dip, Sour Cream Glazed, Chocolate Glazed, Double Chocolate and Honey Dip.

Manitoba RCMP handed out a hefty speeding fine to an 18-year-old driver caught speeding near Portage la Prairie.

Officers clocked the young man going 188 km/h on the TransCanada Highway early Tuesday morning, around 1 a.m.

He told officers he was driving too fast because "it's fun".

RCMP handed out a $1202 ticket for speeding, plus another $672 for driving carelessly, and $672 for driving while disqualified.

The Parkland Regional Library has been making progress on their ongoing renovations.

Alison Moss, Parkland Regional Library Director says COVID-19 has given them time to focus on the renovations, but she’s excited to welcome people back.

“Even with all this craziness around COVID-19 and disrupting how we do our regular library service, we’re busy. We are making the most of our time and I hope when our patrons come back they’re just excited to be in this fresh new space.”

She says that there will be a number of additions to the children’s space.

“We do have a grant from the community foundation so we’ll be putting in some new carpet and reading nooks and upcycling some shelving. So we’re going to have some pretty cool updates for the children’s area as well.”

Books are still available during the closure through curbside pick-up.

Renovations are to completed by March 31st.

For more information and to order books, you can call the library at 204-638-6410.

Five deaths and 133 new cases of COVID-19 were announced in Manitoba on Tuesday — well below the 7 day average of 172 new cases.

Public health are reminding Manitobans to self-isolate immediately at the onset of possible COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild. Health officials recommend testing be done as soon as possible once symptoms appear. 

Directives from the province ask Manitobans to only leave their homes for essential purposes. When leaving the house, the advice is to physically distance, wear a mask in indoor public places and avoid crowded spaces. 

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba due to COVID-19 can be found at the bottom of this article.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12.4% provincially and 12.1% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 24,385. 

There are 4,424 active cases in Manitoba and 19,302 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 246 people in hospital with active COVID-19, as well as 92 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (338 hospitalizations in total).

32 people are in intensive care units with active COVID-19, as well as four people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (36 ICU patients total).

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 659.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• six cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• three cases in the Northern health region
• five cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 22 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 97 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 (4), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (90), Duck Mountain (4), Asessippi (3), Little Saskatchewan (5), and Agassiz Mountain (10). Brandon has 56 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 30 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 34.

Public health officials advise five additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Home
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Oakview Extended Care Facility
• a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at the Portage District General Hospital
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home.

The immunization campaign continues today, with eligible healthcare workers receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Bannatyne campus.

Manitoba joined Ontario in ramping down immunizations over the Christmas holiday -- a decision that's drawn some criticism. Manitoba closed its vaccine clinics on Dec. 23, reopening on Tuesday, Dec. 29.

Elsewhere in Canada, the first batch of the Moderna vaccine has arrived in the Northwest Territories, after being approved by the Public Health Agency of Canada on Dec. 23.

The Moderna vaccine is a more ideal candidate for distribution in the Territories, as it does not require storage in specialized ultra-cold freezers like the Pfizer vaccine.

Here in Manitoba, the province has slightly opened up the criteria of healthcare workers who are eligible for the vaccine.

The plan is to gradually expand the eligibility criteria in the coming weeks to include care home residents, elderly Manitobans, and a broader range of healthcare workers.

To date, there have been 2,177 immunizations in Manitoba, with one adverse reaction.

An immunization clinic at Brandon’s Keystone Centre is set to be up and running by January 18th.