COVID-19

The COVID-19 numbers for Thursday, August 20 saw another 749 new cases reported in a 24-hour period.

Hospitalizations are also climbing up by 23 more cases for a total of 221.

ICU admissions rose by five for a total of 48.

Of those currently in hospital, 179 people or 81.0 percent haven't been vaccinated at all, 11 or 4.98 percent are partially vaccinated and 31 people or 14.03 percent are fully immunized.

One additional death has been reported for a total of 2,343.

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

The newly discovered cases were found in the Dryden/Red Lake and the Rainy River Health Regions

Currently, there are eight active cases in the NWHU catchment area. Five cases in the Kenora Health Region and one case each in the Dryden/Red Lake, Rainy River, and Sioux Lookout Health Regions. 

Three active cases from the Kenora region have been confirmed to be self-isolating outside of the health region.

Canadians will have to wait another month for non-essential travel down south.

This morning the US government announced the extension of their land and sea border closures until September 21, 2021.

The reasoning behind the border extension was to minimize the spread of COVID-19 including the Delta variant while continuing to ensure the flow of essential trade and travel.

The US/Canada border has been closed to non-essential travel since March of 2020.

Air travel into the US is not affected by the recent border extension.

Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers as of August 18, 2021.

The City of Grande Prairie now has 337 active cases of the virus, while the County of Grande Prairie numbers are at 112.

As of August 18, 2021, Alberta has 6,367 active cases of COVID-19.

Hospitalizations have risen to 198, and a total of 43 Albertans are in intensive care receiving treatment. 

There was a very slight rise in vaccinations across the province with 77.1 percent of the population having received one shot, and 68.3 percent of Albertans are now fully immunized.

There were 831 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past 24 hours and 591 or 71.12 per cent of those cases occurred in unvaccinated people.

Eighty-seven or 10.47 per cent of the new cases are in partially vaccinated people and 153 or 18.41 per cent of the cases are in fully vaccinated people. 

There are now 6,367 active cases in Alberta and 4,670 or 73.35 per cent are in unvaccinated people. There are 750 cases affecting partially vaccinated people and 947 cases are affecting fully vaccinated residents. 

There is currently no change in Cochrane town council's decision to let the province dictate the appropriate response to COVID-19.

Nor is there any immediate plan to follow Banff's lead of making vaccines mandatory for town staff.

"We always have our eye on the COVID numbers and everything to do with COVID we monitor very closely," says Mayor Jeff Genung. "We are not at this point mandating the vaccination of employees."

"Those things could change at any time, but we're really just taking the lead from the province at this point."

Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is announcing its stance on students returning to campus this fall, including proof of double vaccination and masking. 

"As we move into the 2021/22 school year the ongoing health risks of COVID-19 remain highly concerning, even with exemplary vaccination rates in Manitoba. Thus, all CMU students, staff, and faculty are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19," says Dr. Cheryl Pauls, President of CMU in a news release on August 19, 2021. 

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

The new case was discovered in the Sioux Lookout Health Region.

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

The Keewatin Patrica District School Board is preparing to welcome students, staff, teachers, and parents back to school this fall, as in-class learning returns.

“We’re really excited to welcome our students back in person, and reconnect with our students and our staff. We’re looking very much forward to it, at the same time we know that we have an important responsibility to ensure all students and staff are as safe as possible when they return to school,” said KPDSB Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand

In the lite of the COVID-19 pandemic causing an economic downturn, the Conservatives are ready to secure the future for Canada.

Earlier this week the party released “Canada’s Recovery Plan”, a platform that they believe will rebuild Canada’s economy from the effects of COVID-19. Erin O’Toole along with Conservative MP’s will be pushing this plan through to the federal election on September 20, 2021.

Kenora MP Eric Melillo is fully invested in the recovery plan that his party has put forward to improve the economy of the region and the country.