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Dauphin Co-op has reported a team member at the Ste Rose Home Centre has tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee’s last shift at the Ste Rose location was on Wednesday, December 23 — according to an online update from Dauphin Co-op.

The Ste Rose Home Centre remains open for business, and say they’re working closely with public health and following their guidance.

This follows an earlier story in late November in which the Ste Rose Home Centre was temporarily closed for deep cleaning after a possible COVID exposure.

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RCMP say a 13-year-old girl reported missing on Sunday has now been safely located.

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The province has provided an update of COVID-19 case numbers over the period of Thursday, Dec. 24 to Sunday, Dec. 27.

Over a period of three days, there were 524 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Manitoba, and 28 deaths.

Twenty of the deaths are related to outbreaks at healthcare facilities throughout the province. None are from the Prairie Mountain Health region.

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 12.1% provincially and 12.5% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 24,145.

There are 4,488 active cases and 19,012 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 252 people in hospital with active COVID-19, as well as 89 people in hospital with the virus who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (341 total hospitalizations).

There are 31 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as four people with the virus who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (35 total ICU patients).

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 645.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

• 96 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 101 cases in the Northern health region
• 24 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 58 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 245 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (3), Riding Mountain (2), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (92), Duck Mountain (4), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (4), and Agassiz Mountain (9). Brandon has 55 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 31 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 32, according to the province’s latest update.

Public health officials advise 28 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today for the period from Dec. 24 to 27 including: 

• a female in her 30s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 60s from the Northern health region
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Poseidon Care Centre
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Poseidon Care Centre
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
• a male in his 70s from the Northern health region
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Fred Douglas Lodge
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a female in her 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Interlake–Eastern health region, linked to an outbreak at Kin Place in Oakbank
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Holy Family Home
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Oakview Place Personal Care Home
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Park Manor Care
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Poseidon Care Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 90s from the Northern health region, linked to an outbreak at George Colon Memorial home in Bunibonibee Cree Nation
• a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to an outbreak at Portage District General Hospital
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Holy Family Home
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at St. Norbert Personal Care Home
• a male in his 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a female in her 100s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at St. Norbert Personal Care Home
• a female in her 100s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Convalescent Home of Winnipeg

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***There will be no daily COVID-19 updates from the province on Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Years Day.

Manitoba is in a “make or break” type of situation over the holidays, according to acting deputy chief public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal.

The current public health guidance for the holidays in Manitoba can be found here.

On Thursday, public health officials announced 244 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths. Thursday's will be the last update on the province's COVID numbers until the next bulletin on Sunday, Dec. 27.

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 10.6% provincially and 10.6% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 23,624.

There are 4,489 active cases and 18,518 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.  There are 254 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 92 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care — for a total of 346 hospitalizations.

There are 35 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 infections, as well as six people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care — for a total of 41 ICU patients.

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 617.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

•    44 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region
•    41 cases in the Northern health region
•    three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
•    42 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud  region
•    114 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (1), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (94), Duck Mountain (5), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (6), Whitemud (0, down from 3), and Agassiz Mountain (4). Brandon has 81 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 30 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 31, according to the province’s latest update.

Public health officials advise 12 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including:  

•    a female in her 30s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region
•    a female in her 80s from the Southern Health-Santé Sud region
•    a male in his 80s from the Northern health region
•    a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region
•    a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region
•    a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region
•    a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region
•    a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
•    a female in her 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 female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region

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A heavy snowfall in the Parkland earlier this week meant there was a lot of shovelling happening around town on Wednesday.

A Dauphin RCMP officer on patrol noticed an elderly resident shovelling a walkway.

It may have taken some persuasion, but the resident agreed to hand over the shovel and let the officer finish the job.

A neighbour captured the moment on camera.

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Manitoba is heading into the holidays with province-wide Code Red restrictions in effect until at least January 8.

Dr. Brent Roussin says "it’s going to be very difficult for people to stay focused, but we need Manitobans to stay focused. We can’t have a lot of gatherings outside of your household because we know that’s where transmission takes place.”

Here’s a look at the latest guidelines from public health officials for the holidays:


What Travel Restrictions Are In Effect Over The Holidays?

The advice from Manitoba’s chief provincial public officer is to stay home and limit gatherings to people from the same household, and celebrate with others virtually.

Current health orders do not restrict travel outside or into Manitoba, but there is a 14-day self-isolation requirement for those arriving in Manitoba from east of Terrace Bay.

Travel to northern Manitoba (above the 53rd parallel) is prohibited, with a number of exceptions.


What Are The Province’s Restrictions On Gatherings?

Gathering sizes in Manitoba — both indoor and outdoor — must be limited to five people or less. There are exceptions for families larger than five.

"The overall message is to limit our gathering, especially this upcoming season, to those within our household," said Dr. Brent Roussin, adding “even with [the] exemptions, we must have caution, to ensure we're reducing our amount of contacts.”

Manitobans are asked to avoid having anyone in their house who does not normally live there. There are exemptions to that rule for things like health care, supporting a dependent family member, delivering items, and maintenance or renovations.

“If we have a lot of gatherings, even on just one day, we’re set up for a lot of transmission and we’ll start seeing the results of that a week or two after the holidays. My strong advice is to limit any gathering outside of your household," said Dr. Brent Roussin. 

People who live on their own can have one other person who they regularly interact with come to their home — and they may also visit that person's home.

Manitobans are free to gather in outdoor public areas with people from outside their household — as long as the group size is 5 or less, and they keep two metres distance from one another. However, Manitobans are not advised to have gatherings in their yard with people from other households.

“So when we have the residence restrictions, we didn’t want the large gatherings in people’s homes — you know, people going out for recreation, being active, we certainly want to encourage that,” said Roussin, “but, we didn’t want large gatherings, be it in someone’s home or in their yard.”


What Are The Guidelines For Outdoor Activities?

Public health officials are encouraging Manitobans to enjoy the outdoors during the Code Red restrictions.

Individual or family outdoor sporting and recreational activities such as skating, tobogganing, skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing are all allowed -- but group sizes must be no more than 5 people, unless all people in the group are from the same household.

Enjoying the outdoors with someone from another household (ie. a neighbour) is okay — as long as two metres distance is maintained and the fundamentals are followed.

Dressing rooms, warming shacks and other indoor facilities associated with outdoor sporting or recreational activities must be closed while the public health orders are in effect.

Ice fishing shacks may open if all persons using the shack reside in the same residence.


Can University/College Students Come Home For Christmas?

Public health officials say students are able come home for the holidays, in situations where students aren't permitted to stay in their school-year living situations during the holidays.

“This traveling back to your, essentially, original residence, with your parents, is not a violation of the orders. So when that's necessary, it certainly doesn't violate the orders,” said Dr. Roussin

However, Roussin notes that if a student were coming into Manitoba from east of Terrace Bay, they would have to abide by the provincial order to self-isolate for 14-days and avoid having any close contacts during the isolation period.


What About Christmas Mass?

Places of worship in Manitoba must remain closed during Code Red, but a recent update to the province-wide measures now allows drive-in church services.

The province says outdoor gatherings in which people remain in their vehicles are permitted, as long as everyone stays in their vehicles, and people within a single vehicle are all from the same household.


What About Boxing Day Shopping?

Retail stores that are allowed to remain open in Manitoba may only sell essential items in-store, and must limit capacity to 25% or 250 people, whichever is lower. 

Non-essential items that can not be purchased in-store are still able to be purchased by telephone or other remote means for delivery or pick-up.

“We have the vaccine on the horizon. We have every reason to believe that next year is not going to look like this — but we have to get through this year.”


Where Can I Go For COVID Testing Over The Holidays?

COVID-19 testing sites and respiratory clinics in the Prairie Mountain Health region will be operating with some adjusted hours over the holidays.

You can click here for a full list of testing site locations and operating hours over the holidays.


Will Santa Be Following Public Health Guidelines?

With Code Red measures in effect heading into the holidays, Dr. Brent Roussin has assured Manitobans that Santa has been given the all-clear.

“Premier Pallister and I worked with others in the government and made some special changes for Santa Claus. Santa is certainly an essential worker which means that he is allowed to travel to Manitoba and able to come to anyone’s house.”

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UPDATE | At 10:10 a.m., Environment Canada reported the extreme cold warning has ended.

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Early this morning around 4:15 Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for the Parkland and much of southern Manitoba.

At 5 a.m. the temperature was -36 with a wind chill of -48.

The extreme wind chills will moderate this morning.

A warm front will pass through the province this afternoon, setting us up for a Christmas day with above normal temperatures.

Risks from the cold are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter.

Environment Canada reminds Manitobans that if it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet too.

In the Parkland, the extreme cold warning is in effect for:

  • 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
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***There will be no daily COVID-19 bulletins from the province on Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Years Day.

Public health officials announced 201 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, and 15 deaths.

Eight of the deaths are linked to outbreaks at healthcare facilities. None of the deaths announced today were in Prairie Mountain Health.

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


Parkland Care Home Outbreaks

The province says the outbreak at the Grandview Personal Care Home has resulted in 36 total positive cases (11 staff, 25 residents), with 5 active cases and 4 deaths.

Provincial data for the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home shows 41 total cases (17 staff, 24 residents), with zero active and 9 deaths.

Holiday Guidance

Manitoba’s acting deputy chief provincial public health officer offered a reminder on the public health advice heading into the holidays.

“Our message is: stay at home,” said Dr. Jazz Atwal, “you’re not supposed to have people at your home. There’s no parties, there’s no dinners — you want to stick to your household. It’s very black and white. Stay at home.”


By The Numbers

Today’s data shows 4,427 active cases and 18,349 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. There are 259 people in hospital with 37 people in intensive care due to COVID-19.

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 605. 

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 15 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region
• 31 cases in the Northern health region
• 14 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 23 cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region
• 118 cases in the Winnipeg health region

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.4% provincially and 10.2% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 23,381.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (2), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (93), Duck Mountain (5), Asessippi (7), Little Saskatchewan (5), Whitemud (3), and Agassiz Mountain no longer has any active cases. Brandon has 122 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 31 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 32, according to the province’s latest update.

Public health officials advise 15 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

• a male in his 70s from the Interlake–Eastern health region
• a male in his 80s from the Interlake–Eastern health region, linked to an outbreak at Kin Place in Oakbank
• a female in her 70s from the Northern health region
• a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a female in her 70s from the Southern Health – Santé Sud health region, linked to an outbreak at the Portage District General Hospital Medical Unit in Portage la Prairie
• a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to an outbreak at Morris General Hospital in Morris
• a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at an outbreak at Grace Hospital Unit 3 North
• a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the Poseidon Care Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Park Manor Care Home
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the Poseidon Care Centre 
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Oakview Place personal care home


Enjoying The Outdoors

For Manitobans looking to enjoy the mental & physical health benefits of enjoying the outdoors, Dr. Jazz Atwal issued a reminder that gathering sizes for outdoor public places must not exceed 5.

“You still want to physically distance if you’re not from the same household.”

Atwal says “it’s good to go out, it’s good to get some exercise and get some sun — but you still want to try to restrict it to your household if you can. Outside of exercise or enjoying the outdoors, you want to be at home.”

Gatherings at indoor, private residences must also not exceed 5 under current public health orders, with exceptions for households larger than 5.

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The Manitoba government is telling us more about the plans for COVID-19 vaccinations in the coming months.

The eligibility criteria will be expanded in the coming weeks as more vaccine doses are delivered — and immunization appointments will gradually open up to a broader range of healthcare workers, care home residents, and elderly Manitobans.

The Manitoba government will use daily COVID-19 vaccine bulletins to inform health-care workers and other Manitobans when they become eligible to be immunized.

The province says the key limiting factor at this time is the vaccine supply procured by the federal government. Supplies are expected to be limited until April 2021 across Canada.

With additional vaccine supplies expected to arrive in Manitoba in January, an estimated 15,000 residents of personal care homes, who are most at risk of serious and potentially life-threatening illness, will become eligible to be vaccinated. 

Provincial officials say a public health evidence-based formula will be used to determine where vaccines will be deployed (ie. assessing the risks of each personal care home, based on the number of residents and the use of shared rooms where infection is more likely to spread).

During the month of January, the province expects enough vaccine supplies to provide approximately 10,000 immunizations per week.

Once larger, additional supplies of vaccines are made available to Manitoba, the province says the next phase of the immunization campaign will add seniors as a priority group, starting with the oldest Manitobans.

Based on projected deliveries of vaccine to Manitoba, this may not begin for several months.

An immunization super site — the province’s 1st — is expected to open at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg on Jan. 4.

On Jan. 18, Brandon’s Keystone Centre in Brandon is expected to begin operating an immunization clinic.

The province says a new online system for booking immunization appointments will launch in early 2021. The current phone line will continue to be available for those without internet access.  

The province will also be launching an online dashboard to provide updates and statistics on the vaccine campaign.

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Health Canada has announced its approval of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

After reviewing the clinical trial data, the vaccine was found to be 94.1% effective.

Earlier this month Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and have already distributed the vaccine across the country.

There are some similarities between the Moderna vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Both require two doses for maximum immunity and they both use mRNA technology.

The major difference is how the vaccines are stored. Moderna’s vaccine can be stored at -20 degrees Celcius while being transferred and then remains stable at 2 to 8 degrees after thawing, for 30 days. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celcius until its destination when it can then be stored for 5 days at 2-8 degrees.

Up to 168-thousand doses are due to arrive in Canada before the end of the month and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said deliveries could begin within 48 hours of approval.

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The winter storm warning ended overnight leaving us with lots of snow to deal with this morning.

Snow ploughs have been working hard all morning to clear the streets.

Throughout the morning as crews have been working, highways have started to reopen.

Highway 5 has completely reopened.

The highway from Rossburn to Russell is open and roads are partly covered.

Highway 20 is open but is covered with snow and ice.

For up to date information on Manitoba roads go to the speedy glass road conditions report.

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