COVID-19

COVID-19 cases continue to rise at a steady pace in Alberta and the vaccination passport debate remains a hot topic.

The UCP government is remaining steadfast in its stand to not mandate vaccination passports.

As more and more independent businesses, venues and learning institutions are requiring proof of vaccination for COVID-19, there is a need for some type of hardcopy validation to gain access to certain places.

Not to be confused with passports, some provinces are providing vaccination cards to offer proof for entry.

The leader of a Christian athletic organization says he had faith all along that they would be able to host summer camps. 

In February, Stephen Klassen, the Regional Camps Director for Athletes in Action in Manitoba, optimistically began planning for summer day camps.

"I know a lot of people sort of challenged me on that notion and asked if it was worth all the time investment I was putting in, but I had just seen God move so many mountains on my behalf and behalf of this ministry," Klassen says.

Manitoba's top doctor says he does not know what this fall's COVID case load will look like for students.

The fourth wave of COVID-19 is coming, Dr. Brent Roussin says, but how severe it will be depends on how well people follow the health orders. Projections released last week show three scenarios for the whole province, but specifics on schools are unknown.

The last vaccine appointment at one Winnipeg site will be held on Monday evening.

A vaccine supersite at 770 Leila Avenue is closing Monday.

"The vaccine implementation task force would like to recognize and thank the staff and volunteers who have dedicated their time to support the vaccine rollout at this location," the province says in a statement.

As of Monday morning, there are 503 active COVID-19 cases with the 34 newly-confirmed cases.

Monday's new cases include

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

The newly found case was found in the Kenora Health Region.

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

Currently, there are six active cases across the NWHU catchment area. Three in the Sioux Lookout Health Region, and one each on the Kenora, Dryden/Red Lake, and Rainy River Health Regions.

As a result of an increase in COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization at the QEII, AHS has made the decision to transfer up to nine patients to neighbouring AHS healthcare centres. This measure enables the QEII to have additional acute care beds spaces to provide care for COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization.

Rising COVID-19 case numbers in the Grande Prairie area, and throughout the North Zone, are having an impact on capacity at the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Hospital.

People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Nadine Wellwood rejects mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports, called it an infringement upon the guaranteed rights of Canadians.

Nadine Wellwood says the Canadian Bill of Rights and our Charter of Rights and Freedoms were written for exactly moments like this.

"These laws were put there for times of crisis like this. We don't need laws for when everything goes well, we need laws for when people are being challenged and things go awry."

Wearing a mask in an enclosed public setting remains the rule in Ontario.

The Northwestern Health Unit says they have received a number of complaints from local businesses that indicate some people are entering their business without a face covering.

"At this point, we think likely that there are individuals from other provinces, where that restriction no longer applies, that may believe that it doesn't apply in Ontario but masking is still required in Ontario in enclosed public spaces," says Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officier of Health at the Northwestern Health Unit

COVID-19 cases continue to rise at a steady pace in Alberta and the vaccination passport debate remains a hot topic.

The UCP government is remaining steadfast in its stand to not mandate vaccination passports.

As more and more independent businesses, venues and learning institutions are requiring proof of vaccination for COVID-19, there is a need for some type of hardcopy validation to gain access to certain places.

Not to be confused with passports, some provinces are providing vaccination cards to offer proof for entry.

Most secondary schools across the region will play host to COVID-19 vaccination clinics during the first few weeks of the school year.

The Northwestern Health Unit says the clinics will be set up so students and members of the general public can get immunized.

"The clinics will begin in the early afternoon for students and will run until the evening to ensure accessibility," said Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officier of Health at the Northwestern Health Unit.