COVID-19

Local active COVID-19 cases in Grande Prairie are currently at 218, while the County of Grande Prairie has 45.  The data is current as of August 9, 2021.

Provincially, there are 3,463 active cases.  133 people are currently in the hospital, with 29 in the ICU receiving treatment for COVID-19.

Vaccination statistics for eligible citizens fully vaccinated in the area stand at 40.9% for the City of Grande Prairie and 40.1% in the County of Grande Prairie

Zero new positive COVID-19 test results have been reported across the district by the Northwestern Health Unit.

Currently, the area has two active cases across the NWHU catchment area. One case each in the Rainy River and Sioux Lookout Health Regions. The NWHU has confirmed that one of the confirmed cases is isolating out of the area.

American anglers, tourists, and resort-goers had the opportunity to once again enter Northwestern Ontario as the Canadian border opened to fully vaccinated US travelers on Monday.

Totem Resorts was one of many resort locations in Northwestern Ontario to welcome back their American guests for the rest of the season.

A downtown care home that was overrun with COVID-19 cases and cockroaches will close by this time next year.

In Manitoba's second COVID-19 wave, Parkview Place was the site of many outbreaks and more than a dozen of its residents died during them. After a review from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the WRHA gave two dozen recommendations, including pest control for the cockroach infestation and needing a smaller gurney for deceased residents as room entrances are too small.

Now, according to Revera, they cannot make the facility suitable for residents in care.

Northwestern Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to increase, which adds to a hopeful exit of Step Three of the provinces Roadmap to Reopen Plan.

The Northwestern Health Unit has released its weekly vaccine rate update.

As of yesterday, 81.7 per cent of those aged 18 and over have received one dose and 72.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Ages 12 and over are not far behind as 80.2 per cent have received their first dose and 70 percent have received both doses.

With the latest public health orders coming into effect in Manitoba this past weekend, the provincial requirement to be masked in indoor public places ended.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister was in Portage la Prairie Monday afternoon for an infrastructure funding announcement and commented on the lax restrictions.

With the government's recently lifted restrictions, a Christian college had its best turnout to date for their golf tournament fundraiser. 

The Providence University College and Theological Seminary held the Providence Classic golf tournament at Quarry Oaks outside of Steinbach on August 10. It helps raise funds for scholarships for the Christian college. 

"We have over 160 golfers which is the most we've ever had," says Gina Turnbull, one of the organizers for the August 10th event. 

Doctors Manitoba says a fourth COVID-19 wave is coming, but how soon and how severe will be up to Manitobans in the upcoming weeks.

Dr. Kristjan Thompson is the President of Doctors Manitoba and an ER doctor at St. Boniface Hospital, saying he has seen "the sickest of the sick" this pandemic.

"I am disappointed to see the listing of the mask mandate from the province's pandemic restrictions. Now granted, the risk of COVID-19 has decreased in this province and that is because people are going out and getting vaccinated, but that risk is not zero," Thompson says.

Slightly more than 80 people are in hospital due to COVID-19 in Manitoba.

As of Tuesday morning, there are 31 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba. 

New cases include:

Tons of fishing and fun was had last weekend as the Kenora Bass International wrapped up their 2021 tournament.

“It was an interesting one, it was good, we enjoyed it. There was a lot of new stuff to consider and lots of stuff that we usually do that we weren’t able to do, but overall I think it was awesome,” said Cori Libitka Co-Chair of KBI

Due to COVID-19 no spectators or crowds were allowed in attendance, but KBI along with WOLFE Sound Production did provide a live stream of the event's daily take-offs and weigh-ins, which allowed fans and families to tune in.