COVID-19

The Government of Alberta is putting new health measures in place to combat a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases.

On Wednesday (Sept.15), Premier Jason Kenney declared Alberta is once again under a State of Public Health Emergency.

Prior to government officials addressing the province on Wednesday, September 15 evening, the COVID-19 numbers continue trend up at an alarming rate. 

In the past 24 hours, 1,609 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Alberta bringing the total active case count to 18,421.

The most prevalent number is the rising hospitalizations, as another 55 people are now in hospital being treated for the virus, bringing the total to 877.

With a growing number of protests provincewide, the Alberta RCMP says they will take the necessary steps to prevent operational disturbances at local healthcare facilities and keep Albertans safe.

Planned protests have occurred at hospitals and health care facilities in the province's largest cities this week with protesters angrily expressing their opposition to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations.

A live update on Alberta's COVID response efforts will be broadcasted live this evening.

Premier Jason Kenney will be joined by health minister Tyler Shandro, chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, and Alberta Health Services president and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu.

According to a media release from the province, they'll be providing an "update on COVID-19 and the ongoing work to protect public health."

It's scheduled for 6 p.m., unlike most previous COVID updates from Dr. Hinshaw, which typically take place at 3:30 p.m.

Ontario leadership is continuing to provide more details into the upcoming yet divisive vaccination passport and associated app, the first of which is set to take effect as of September 22.

Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott was joined by Associate Minister of Digital Government Kaleed Rasheed, who is leading the development of the vaccination passport’s app, and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore yesterday afternoon.

In one week, vaccine passports will be required to enter public recreational indoor spaces.  

As of September 22, 2021, people over the age of 18 will be required to show proof of vaccination upon entering restaurants, casinos, gyms, and more.  

A specific list of conditions is being released, highlighting what could qualify a Manitoban for a COVID-19 vaccine exemption.

The medical lead for Manitoba's COVID-19 vaccine task force, Dr. Joss Reimer, says the province is working to create a secure system to give COVID-19 vaccine exemptions.

"The plan today is to use it for them to be able to go to restaurants, to participate in sports, to attend concerts and all of the other things that are in the existing orders," Reimer says in a Wednesday press conference. 

This exception includes people who:

Dr. Joss Reimer, Manitoba's medical lead for the COVID-19 immunization task force is announcing Wednesday afternoon that some Manitobans may be getting a third COVID-19 vaccine.

Those eligible will include:

A number of COVID-19 vaccine walk-in clinics are taking place at schools across the region today (September 15, 2021).

Kenora residents can attend a walk-in clinic at St Thomas Aquinas High School between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dryden’s walk-in clinic is located at Dryden High School between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Red Lake is holding its walk-in clinic at Red Lake High School from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ignace's clinic will be at Ignace Public School between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Northwestern Health Unit has discovered one new positive COVID-19 test result in the district.

The newly found case was reported in the Dryden/Red Lake Health Region. 

The NWHU has confirmed that one case from the Sioux Lookout region has been removed from our dataset as it is no longer considered a case.

Follow up with the person involved and their contacts has started according to protocol. Anyone who is identified as a contact for this case will be contacted directly.

Currently, there are nine active cases in the NWHU catchment area.