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An online survey polled 1049 adults between August 19th and 29th and found most Manitobans would support government rules requiring masks in all indoor public spaces.
According to the survey, conducted by Probe Research, 61 per cent strongly support mandatory masks at 23 per cent somewhat support masks, while 6 per cent somewhat oppose masks and 9 per cent strongly oppose it.
No margin of error can be assigned to the survey because it was conducted online.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A high wind warning has been issued for the south shoreline of Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg.
The advisory was issued Wednesday and lasts until midnight on Thursday.
Winds reaching 80km/h are expected for the south basin of Lake Manitoba, shorelines near Gimli on the west side, and Victoria Beach on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.
This could raise wave levels by 5 feet or more. Property owners are advised to take precautions.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Today the province posted some new information materials online for parents, students, and teachers.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says the province wanted to address some frequently asked questions, to help make the return to schools next week as COVID-19 safe as possible.
“We certainly see that there is that anxiousness. To the best of our ability, in terms of providing in advance, we hope that will alleviate some of that anxiousness.”
The materials are posted online, and printed versions will be available for distribution. Information will be updated as required throughout the school year.
When asked about remote-learning options, Goertzen said it’s only available to immunocompromised students, or students who have other health issues.
“First of all, the best place to learn for a child is in the classroom. That is repeated by all of the different experts — we saw the impact of not having children in classroom in March … and when you’re guided by public health, and the best medical advice and experts in Manitoba say that this is a safe way to return students to school, then you want to return them to school.”
The province has also changed its mask policy on school buses, now requiring students of all ages to wear a mask on the school bus this year.
For a link to the new online resources posted by education officials today, click here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Thirteen new cases of COVID-19 have been announced today, taking the provincial total up to 1,244.
Of today’s cases, 8 are in the Prairie Mountain Health region, with no new cases in the Dauphin health district.
Officials are advising of two potential exposures to the virus - one at the Canoe Taphouse in Wasagaming on August 21st to 23rd, and the other at the Buffalo Bar and Ten restaurant at the Elkhorn Resort Spa and Conference Centre in Onanole on August 21st to 22nd.
Manitoba has 454 active cases, and 776 people have recovered.
The number of deaths in the province remains at 14.
Manitobans are encouraged to stick to the fundamentals to stop the spread of COVID-19 which include physical distancing, wearing a mask, covering your cough, washing your hands, and staying home if you’re sick.
For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Mountain View School Division is addressing your concerns about the new school year this evening, through their virtual town hall meeting.
MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward will be hosting the zoom meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Ward will cover what the school year will look like, the use of cohorts, and how the pandemic response system applies to schools.
To access the meeting, click here.
You don’t need to pre-register, but the meeting does require this password: 008939.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The province has updated its mask-wearing mandate for children on school buses.
Masks will be required on school buses for all students, regardless of age.
This is a change to the previous ruling from the province, which made masks a requirement for only students Grade 4 and above.
The new rule includes drivers, students and any other passengers on the bus.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
School is back after the long weekend for the DRCSS on September 8th. Thanks to COVID, this school year will look a lot different.
DRCSS principal Norm Casavant says they’ve gone with the blended learning approach because of the 702 students they have scheduled at the high school.
“There simply wasn’t a way to keep students socially distanced appropriately so that health recommendations could be met. So, we’ve moved to a blended learning model where half of the students will attend Monday/Wednesday and the other half will attend Tuesday/Thursday and Friday will be a day where teachers continue to work one on one with students who need additional supports through appointments.”
Schools were given the option between having cohorts up to 75 students or ensuring two metres of distance between students while in class. Principal Casavant says they decided against cohorts because it would be virtually impossible to find 75 students that need the same courses and to keep them together.
“So we have chosen to do the two-metre distancing and all schools had that option if they could make it work, so we’ve chose to do that. Our classes are already set up in that two-metre distancing setup.”
That new setup for classrooms is one of the biggest changes Casavant thinks students will have to get used to.
“The most you would see in a class now is 15 desks, lots of classes if their numbers are only at 10, they’ll only have 10 desks, so that would be one thing they’ll notice right away. All the hallways are marked for which way the students need to be walking, all the locker bays are closed off, we won’t be using lockers because of the congestion that would occur in those areas.”
While the cafeteria space can still be used, lunch won’t be served and students will have to bring a lunch. Lunch hours have also been staggered so there are fewer students having lunch at the same time. In the DRCSS’ return to school plan, they say only students eligible for bussing will be permitted to use the cafeteria at lunch, other students will be asked to leave the building during their lunch hour.
When arriving at the school, students and staff will enter through the main doors and are expected to use the provided hand sanitizer. When leaving, students and staff are to exit through the gym doors and are also expected to use the provided hand sanitizer.
A thorough cleaning process will occur at the DRCSS. A minimum of twice per day, high touch surfaces (doors, handles, desks, chairs, etc.) will be thoroughly cleaned.
For more information on the DRCSS’ return to school plan, click here.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Leader of the Official Opposition was in Roblin Tuesday afternoon for a socially distanced town hall, where he addressed concerns among community members about the recent suspension of their emergency department.
Wab Kinew says he was impressed with the large turnout of people who filled the Roblin Community Center parking lot, staying in their cars and honking horns to express their discontentment.
“Imagine a championship hockey game at the local arena — it was that many cars in the parking lot, and it was about healthcare. It tells me a lot of people in Roblin are upset their emergency department is going to be closed at 4:30 p.m. this Friday, and that they want the government to change their mind, said Kinew, adding "hopefully, the government does reconsider.”
Speaking with CKDM, the Manitoba NDP Leader touched on the potential long-term impacts on the development of the community, if the temporary suspension of health services were to result in a permanent closure.
“If you don’t have a local emergency department, that young family is going to think twice about moving here. Teachers, professionals, business owners, people who work in ag — they might thing twice about moving here if this thing is allowed to move ahead.”
Northwest Metis Council Vice President Frances Chartrand also spoke at the town hall, voicing concerns on behalf of the Metis community living in the R.M. and town of Roblin.
Health Officials Maintain This Is A Temporary Closure
In response to these concerns, health officials have maintained their intention is to restore health services as soon as staff shortages are addressed.
Petr Kresta, Chief Operating Officer of diagnostic services with Shared Health, told CKDM reporters the work to fill vacant positions has been going on for years, and unfortunately, there is a shortage of diagnostic staff — not just in Manitoba — but in most of the country.
“Rest assured that we are expending all possible efforts to deal with the situation, and to get a sufficient staffing level so we can resume providing diagnostic support in Roblin and return services to a pre-existing level,” said Kresta.
Kresta described the staff shortages in Russell, Roblin, and Shoal Lake as being at “a very serious level right now.”
Prairie Mountain Health, Shared Health, and Health Minister Cameron Friesen have said this is only a temporary closure due to diagnostic staff shortages.
“Our intent is to reinstate those services as soon as we have the staffing,” said Shared Health’s COO of diagnostic services.
Even with the temporary suspension of Emergency Department services, the Centre will continue to provide acute in-patient care, ECG exams, ultrasound service, and lab sample collection.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Emergency crews responded a collision Tuesday afternoon south of Dauphin around 4:10 p.m.
The Dauphin Fire Deaprtment, EMS and RCMP units were also on the scene at Highway 10, near the Dauphin airport.
Traffic was slowed down through the area.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A man in Dauphin was taken to hospital after being stabbed over the weekend.
On Saturday, August 29th, RCMP responded to the stabbing outside of an apartment building on 2nd Ave NE in Dauphin.
The 71-year-old man was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
RCMP have arrested 26-year-old Marcus Mclean from Brandon. He is facing multiple charges including assault with a weapon, failure to comply, and possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes.
The investigation is ongoing.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Public Health officials have announced 18 new cases of COVID-19 today.
Manitoba now has a total of 1,232 cases, 459 are active and 759 people have recovered from the virus.
Seven of these new cases are in the Prairie Mountain Health region; none are in the Dauphin health district.
Investigations show that two of the cases announced today are from Prairie Mountain Health residents at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. There are now 3 cases linked to the centre.
Officials are also advising of two possible exposures of COVID-19 in Brandon, one at Warlock Tattoo and the second at East Side Mario’s.
To see the date and time for the possible exposures, click here.
Starting today, all visitors arriving at health-care facilities are required to wear a non-medical mask. This includes outpatients attending appointments at clinics within hospitals and health centres throughout the province.
You can find more information about COVID-19 in Manitoba here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
