NewsNow
The COVID-19 pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge to healthcare in 2020.
Looking back on the regional health authority’s response to the first 10 months of COVID-19, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson feels they’ve done pretty well overall managing the pandemic.
She highlighted the establishment of contact tracing, testing sites, and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) across such a large geographical area.
Gilson acknowledged the hard work of healthcare staff who have had to change schedules, work overtime, and be redeployed to other areas, “all the while dealing with their own personal pressures we all have faced to some degree during the pandemic.”
“The biggest challenge was for the healthcare staff, but also the biggest success was the staff that did what needed to be done,” said Gilson.
Looking Ahead To 2021
The issue of staffing shortages, particularly in smaller rural communities, will remain a focal point in the year ahead. Staffing shortages have led to the suspension of services at several rural health centres in 2020.
Gilson says PMH needs to be relentless in their recruitment and retention initiatives at the regional level to address staffing shortages.
“I’d say the biggest challenge is in these smaller rural communities … it’s going to take work from a lot of different parties.”
She says prior to the pandemic, Shared Health had been working to address the issue by taking the lead on the development and implementation of a human resource plan.
“Hopefully on the other side of the COVID we can get back to doing that necessary work — and a robust health human resource plan is apart of that.”
Gilson highlights PMH’s use of local training programs, adding that “people who have roots here are more likely to stay in a rural community.” She says PMH meets with any and all students in the healthcare field to make them aware of the opportunities across Prairie Mountain.
“Hopefully if everybody works together we’ll see more stability in the years ahead.”
Gilson To Retire From CEO Role In April
Penny Gilson is stepping down as CEO of Prairie Mountain Health in April 2021 -- after over 20 years in the role.
"It’s time for me to take a step back and let someone else come in and see what that future brings.”
She says it feels like the right time for her, and tells CKDM she’s looking forward to spending time with friends and family — once public health orders enable her to do so — and is also excited about a new granddaughter added to the family in November.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Health officials announced 130 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, and 7 deaths.
The deaths include six individuals from Winnipeg, and one from the Southern health region. Four of the 7 are linked to care home outbreaks.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.7% provincially and 11.5% in Winnipeg.
Manitoba's test positivity rate has improved slightly as of late | Graphic courtesy of the Manitoba Government
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 25,374.
There are 4,427 active cases and 20,252 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 243 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 96 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (339 hospitalizations in total).
Thirty-five Manitobans are in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as five people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (40 ICU patients total).
The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 695.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 17 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 19 cases in the Northern health region
• nine cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• eight cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 77 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 (4), Swan River (3), Porcupine Mountain (90), Duck Mountain (2), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (5), and Agassiz Mountain (7). Brandon has 31 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 45 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 43.
Safely Enjoying The Outdoors
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, clarified that Manitobans are not required to wear a mask when enjoying the outdoors.
However, public health advice does encourage mask-wearing whenever possible.
“I think hand-washing and wearing a mask whenever you can is good advice,” said Roussin.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A total of 55 tickets were issued to Manitobans last week for breaking COVID-19 guidelines.
From Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 -- $65,292 in fines were given out across the province.
Forty-one of the 55 tickets were handed out at private gatherings. 11 of the tickets were issued at two Winnipeg parties.
Six fines were issued for not wearing a mask in an indoor public place.
Fines are currently set at $5,000 for businesses, $1,279 for individuals, and $298 for not wearing a mask.
Since enforcement began in April, a total of 1,962 warnings and 672 tickets have been issued, resulting in more than $984,000 in fines to businesses and individuals.
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Premier Brian Pallister has announced his cabinet shuffle. Some highlights include a new health minister, a second health minister, and Manitoba's first Black cabinet minister.
Six Ministers have received new responsibilities.
Kelvin Goertzen has gone from education minister to the deputy premier and minister of legislative and public affairs.
Heather Stefanson, who was the deputy premier and families minister is now the minister of health and seniors care.
Cameron Friesen is changing from health, seniors, and active living minister to the justice minister and attorney general.
Former justice minister and attorney general Cliff Cullen is now the education minister.
Ralph Eichler, who was the minister of economic development and training is now the minister of economic development and jobs.
Rochelle Squires, who was the minister of municipal relations and francophone affairs is now the minister of families and francophone affairs.
Three new ministers have been appointed.
Wayne Ewasko has been appointed the minister of advanced education, skills and immigration.
Derek Johnson has been appointed the minister of municipal relations.
Finally, Audrey Gordon has been appointed the minister of mental health, wellness, and recovery. After making history as the first Black MLA, she is now Manitoba’s first Black cabinet minister.
There’s also a number of ministers keeping their responsibilities:
- Ron Schuler – minister of infrastructure
- Blaine Pedersen – minister of agriculture and resource development
- Eileen Clarke – minister of Indigenous and northern relations
- Cathy Cox – minister of sports, culture and heritage and minister responsible for the status of women
- Scott Fielding – minister of finance
- Jeff Wharton – minister of Crown services
- Reg Helwer – minister of central services
- Sarah Guillemard – minister of conservation and climate
A news release from the province says the Premier will speak to the media at 1 p.m., and at 2:30 p.m., the new ministers will speak to the media.
This has caused the daily COVID update to be pushed back to 3:30 p.m.
This is the first time since October 2019 there's been a cabinet shuffle.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Dauphin has welcomed the first baby of the new year.
Baby Naylah Houle was born at 4:50 a.m. on Sunday, January 3rd at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
She weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces.
Parents Ashlee Houle and Nathan McKay were congratulated by Prairie Mountain Health and staff at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
To celebrate the occasion, the Dauphin Hospital Auxiliary presented the family with gift cards.
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba’s code red measures are set to expire on Friday, Jan. 8 -- but health officials say they still haven’t landed on a plan for updating the restrictions.
Dr. Brent Roussin says that’s partly because “it too early to know the effects of holiday gatherings on our numbers”, adding, “it’s still premature to determine any changes to our restrictions."
"We haven’t yet landed on the new restrictions.”
Dr. Brent Roussin says we’re starting to see case numbers coming down, but test positivity and hospitalization rates remain too high.
“This is not the time to relax our efforts against this virus.”
Health officials reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Monday, and 5 more deaths.
The deaths announced Monday are all out of the Winnipeg health region. Two of which are linked to care home outbreaks. One is a woman in her 30s.
A Look At The Numbers
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.7% provincially and 11.8% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 25,244.
There are 4,423 active cases and 20,133 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 245 people in hospital with active COVID-19, and another 95 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (340 hospitalizations in total).
There are 35 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19, and also six people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (41 ICU patients in total).
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 688.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• seven cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• five cases in the Northern health region
• seven cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 19 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 80 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6, down from 10), Riding Mountain (4), Swan River (3), Porcupine Mountain (92), Duck Mountain (2), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (3), and Agassiz Mountain (5). Brandon has 28 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 42 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 39.
Concerns over the new COVID-19 variant, which experts believe to be more transmissible, have prompted the Manitoba Government to release updated guidelines for international travellers arriving in the province. Click here to read more.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Manitoba Government has issued some updated guidelines for international travellers arriving in the province.
There have been some concerns at various levels of government after several cases of the new COVID-19 variant have been identified in Canada.
To date, there have been no cases of the variant identified in Manitoba, but Ontario has reported several cases of the variant believed to be more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain.
All international travellers arriving in Canada are reminded to get tested for COVID-19 immediately, regardless of whether or not they’re displaying symptoms.
International travellers arriving by air are also subject to a federal order requiring a mandatory 14-day isolation period on arrival in Canada — regardless of symptoms or test results.
A press release from the Manitoba Government says international travellers should also be tested again after seven days, even if still asymptomatic.
At this time, experts believe the new variant may be more transmissible, but there is no evidence the variant causes more severe symptoms of COVID-19. There’s also no evidence that the variant will be resistant to vaccines.
Current public health order in Manitoba strongly advise that travel out of the province should be limited to essential purposes only.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) is providing a yearly review of their responses in 2020.
The fire department responded to a total of 168 incidents in 2020 — a 22% decrease in calls compared to the year prior and the lowest amount of calls for service since 2006.
The greatest number of calls to the DFD were for motor vehicle collisions, with 51 incidents — up from 39 in 2019.
Breakdown of calls received by the Dauphin Fire Department in 2020 | Graphic courtesy of the Dauphin Fire Department
The second most common call to the DFD was for false alarms, with a total of 50 — down from 67 in 2019.
The department says it’s difficult to say whether COVID-19 restrictions had anything to do with the decrease in overall calls.
Surprisingly, despite residents spending more time at home during the pandemic, there was a very significant 88% decrease in the number of kitchen fires.
DFD Responds To First Calls Of 2021
It took 3 days into the New Year before the Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) was called for service.
Shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3, the DFD got a call about a residential smoke alarm sounding on Bossons Avenue, which ended up being a minor cooking incident that activated the monitored home alarm.
10-year analysis of call volume to the Dauphin Fire Department | Graphic courtesy of the Dauphin Fire Department
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A two-week remote learning period for Manitoba students grades 7 to 12 begins today.
That means about half of all Manitoba students will be instructed online until Jan. 15, in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen explains the decision was based on evidence that older students have a higher incidence of contracting the virus, a larger number of close contacts and are more likely to transmit the virus to others as a result.
Mountain View School Division (MVSD) Superintendent Dan Ward has said the brief remote learning period to start the new year will require a bit of an adjustment for the five smaller high schools in the Division — which had students in-class full time up until now.
Speaking with CKDM before the holiday break, Ward says the DRCSS in Dauphin will have an easier transition to going fully remote, as they’ve already been delivering a blended learning approach in which students attend school only two days a week.
During the first two weeks of 2021, in-class learning will continue for students from kindergarten to grade 6 — and also for students grade 7 and above with special needs.
Students from kindergarten to grade 6 will continue with in-class learning, but have also been provided with an option to learn remotely during the two-week period.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Health officials reported 101 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Sunday, and five deaths.
The deaths reported Sunday include:
• a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a male in his 30s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Lions Housing Centres Personal Care Home
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
The current five-day test positivity rate is 10.5% provincially and 11.3% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 25,126.
There are 4,461 active cases and 19,982 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 244 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 95 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (339 total hospitalizations at this time).
There are 34 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as seven people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (41 total ICU patients at this time).
The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba is 683.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• five cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 12 cases in the Northern health region
• eight cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 12 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 64 cases in the Winnipeg health region
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (10), Riding Mountain (4), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (92), Duck Mountain (1), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (3), and Agassiz Mountain (8). Brandon has 29 active cases.
There are currently 10 active cases in the Dauphin health district | Graphic courtesy of the Government of Manitoba
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 38 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 39.
Manitobans are advised to self-isolate immediately at the onset of symptoms for COVID-19, no matter how mild.
Public health officials say if anyone in a home is symptomatic — the entire household needs to self-isolate pending COVID-19 test results. Exceptions are made for healthcare workers.
The online COVID-19 self-assessment tool can be found here, and a list of COVID-19 testing sites in the Prairie Mountain Health region can be found on the Prairie Mountain Health website.
- Details
- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba health officials are reporting 11 more deaths and 327 new cases of COVID-19 today.
Today's numbers cover a two-day period, as there was no provincial COVID update on Friday due to the New Year's holiday.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
- 16 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
- 52 cases in the Northern health region
- 13 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
- 33 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- 213 cases in the Winnipeg health region
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.4 percent provincially and 11.1 percent in Winnipeg.
There are 4,559 active cases province-wide and 19,789 individuals who have recovered. The total number of cases in Manitoba is 25,026.
239 people are in hospital with active COVID-19 with 36 in intensive care. There number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba is 678.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (7, up from 5 Thursday), Riding Mountain (4), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (91), Duck Mountain (1), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (3), and Agassiz Mountain (11). Brandon has 29 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 34 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 38.
Public health officials advise 11 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today for the period of Jan. 1 and 2 including:
- a male in his 50s from the Northern health region
- a male in his 60s from the Interlake–Eastern Health region
- a female in her 60s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region
- a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
