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Only 74% of Manitobans will likely be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021, according to a document released by the Manitoba government this week.

“Manitoba’s Immunization Rollout Plan” also projects 53% of adults would likely receive both doses by the end of September.

The Pallister government says these numbers point to a failure by the federal government to meet its targets on acquiring enough doses.

Here in Manitoba, just one immunization clinic is in operation, located at Winnipeg’s RBC convention centre. Another site is expected to open at Brandon’s Keystone Centre by January 18.

As of Thursday afternoon, the province reports 6,026 Manitobans have received the first dose of the vaccine since the campaign began — including 255 priority healthcare workers from Prairie Mountain Health.

That works out to less than half of one percent of the population having received a dose of the vaccine at this time.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses of the vaccine about a month apart to provide optimal protection against the virus.

To date, Manitoba has received a total of 22,230 doses of the Pfizer vaccine — 7,000 of which were delivered earlier this week.

The province has received 7,300 doses of the Moderna vaccine and 5,300 have been allocated for First Nation immunization priorities.

The remaining Moderna vaccine doses will be used to support the immunization campaign at personal care homes, which pledges to offer the first dose to all Manitoba care home residents in a 28-day campaign.

Manitoba health officials are reporting a slightly higher number of cases today with 208 new infections, along with 12 deaths.

Two of the deaths are in the Prairie Mountain Health region – a man in his 60’s, and a woman in her 90’s at Fairview Place Care Home in Brandon. The number of deaths in the province is 717.

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

Public health officials advise a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre in McCreary. The site has been moved to Critical (red) on the Pandemic Response System. No other details have been made available at this time.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• nine cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 60 cases in the Northern health region
• 17 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 17 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 105 cases in the Winnipeg health region

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 9.9 percent provincially and 10.5 percent in Winnipeg.

Of the 25,742 cases province-wide, 4,506 are active and 20,519 people have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 228 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 91 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (319 total hospitalizations).

There are 31 people in intensive care with active COVID-19 and four people who are no longer infectious but continue to receive critical care (35 total ICU patients).

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (1), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (74), Duck Mountain (2), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (6), Whitemud (2), and Agassiz Mountain (16). Brandon has 38 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 48 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 43. 


Personal Care Home Visitation Shelters

Personal care home residents will soon be able to welcome loved ones for visits in the province’s new "COVIsitation spaces", which are being installed at 125 personal care homes (PCH) and other sites across the province. 

During Manitoba’s code red restrictions, a maximum of one visitor and one PCH resident will be allowed at a time.

The province says that care homes without a "COVIsitation shelter" will have designated visitation rooms. Visits will be by appointment only, and masks will be mandatory for residents and visitors.

More details will be available from individual care homes in the coming days.

To support the launch of a coordinated and focused immunization campaign in all 63 First Nations communities in Manitoba, the provincial government will be shipping 5,300 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

A statement released by Premier Brian Pallister says “this is a historic day in our fight against COVID-19, built on a strong and respectful partnership with First Nations leadership and the guidance of our public health experts.”

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin and Southern Chiefs Organization have announced their initial priority groups for immunization, which include essential health-care workers, residents in personal care homes and Elder care facilities, and older Manitobans.

Pallister says it closely mirrors the priority groups chosen by Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force, he adds that it “reflects the importance of using our limited supply of vaccine to protect our health-care system and those most at risk of serious illness.”

Since the vaccines require 2 doses about a month apart for optimal protection, another 5,300 doses have been committed to First Nations communities next month.

Pallister finished by saying they’ll “continue to collaborate on an equitable, timely and effective response to COVID-19.”

On Tuesday night at 11, RCMP responded to a house fire at a historical home, on Pelly Ave. in Russell.

It's the oldest home in town and was built in 1888.

When officers arrived, the Fire Department was battling the fire, which had fully engulfed the house.

2 hours later, there was a 911 call from a 22-year-old admitting he started the fire.

Liam Flett gave his location and officers arrested him.

Flett faces charges of arson, mischief and break and entering to commit an offence.

The investigation continues.

An email sent to parents yesterday from Peter Pan Nursery said they'd be closed while waiting for direction from public health following a positive COVID test result to a child.

Public health has cleared Peter Pan Nursery to re-open today.

It was determined when the child was at the daycare on December 29th and 30th, they weren't in their infectious period.

The daycare says credit for fees paid for yesterday will be adjusted on the next invoice.

A man from Skownan First Nation has made another appearance in court for manslaughter.

23-year-old Jayden Catcheway will be back in Dauphin Court on May 19th.

Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a report of an injured man at a home on the reserve in the morning of June 1st, 2020.

A 31-year-old man died from his injuries in hospital.

43-year-old Ramona Tanner made another appearance in court in connection with a death in October.

Tanner, from Dauphin, faces a manslaughter charge and was remanded in custody for January 19th.

On October 25th, 2020, Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of an unconscious, injured male.

When officers arrived at the scene, the 26-year-old man was pronounced dead.

Early this morning just after 2:30 a.m., the Dauphin Fire Department was dispatched to a home on Jackson Street, in Dauphin, due to an unknown fire.

Upon arrival, they found the neighbour of the caller was burning old papers on their deck and there was no actual fire.

The DFD recommends using a shredder to dispose of old letters instead of using a lighter.

The second round of rebate cheques from Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) are in the mail.

The rebates should be around $100 for the average policyholder.

A portion of premiums are being returned through this rebate due to lower than expected claims during the pandemic.

It's expected the rebate cheques will take about four weeks before they arrive in the mail.

MPI issued it's the first round of rebate cheques back in May of 2020.

Health officials are reporting 10 more deaths due to COVID-19 and 176 new cases today.

All but two of the deaths are in the Winnipeg region, including a man in his 70’s from the Interlake health region and a woman in her 40’s from the Northern health region.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

  • 11 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
  • 31 cases in the Northern health region
  • 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
  • 13 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region and
  • 109 cases in the Winnipeg health region 

Of Manitoba’s 25,541 cases, 4,460 are active and 20,376 people have recovered.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.4 percent provincially and 11.5 percent in Winnipeg.

There are 237 people in hospital in hospital with active COVID-19 and 92 people in hospital that are no longer infectious but still require care. (329 total hospitalizations)

There are 32 people in intensive care with active COVID-19 and 5 who are no longer infectious but still need critical care. (37 total ICU patients)

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 705.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (3), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (76, down from 90), Duck Mountain (2), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (5), Whitemud (2), and Agassiz Mountain (12, up from 7). Brandon has 31 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 45 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 44. 

The province has announced a plan to immunize all Manitoba care home residents against COVID-19.

Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, saying all eligible care home residents will be provided with the first dose of the vaccine over a 28-day campaign. 

Pallister says every eligible care home resident will have received both doses by early March.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require a 2nd dose about a month after the first to provide optimal protection against the virus. 

Care home immunizations in Manitoba will begin on Monday, Jan. 11 at seven locations across the province, including one in Prairie Mountain Health at Hillcrest Place in Brandon.

Next week, the province says the immunization schedule will be released for all remaining PCHs in Manitoba.