COVID-19

The first major event at the Cochrane Movie House since the lifting of restrictions was like a reunion for seniors in Cochrane.

Nearly 200 sat down to enjoy a showing of "On Golden Pond" on three of the screens at the Movie House, and there was no lack of chatter, laughs, and smiling faces all afternoon.

A man in his 30s from the Winnipeg health region has died from COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, 77.9 per cent of Manitobans have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 63.1 per cent have received two doses.

Public health officials have confirmed 44 new cases of the virus in Manitoba. Eleven cases have been removed due to case corrections, bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 57,269.  The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.5 per cent provincially and 2.9 per cent in Winnipeg.

The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed one positive COVID-19 test result in the district. The confirmed test result was reported from the Rainy River 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 three active cases across the NWHU catchment area. One active case in the Kenora Health Region and two active cases in the Rainy River Health Region.

Shopping and supporting our local businesses is the theme behind a brand new campaign called Cochrane Loves Local. 

The town of Cochrane is one of the first communities in Canada to use federal funds to launch this new buy local campaign. 

Cochrane received just under $60,000 in funding from Ottawa to help promote local shops. 

As part of the campaign we'll see local residents sharing stories about our local businesses on video and in testimonials that will then be shared on social media. 

It has been a very long 18 months for the residents and staff of long-term and continuing care facilities like Bethany Cochrane. The announcement last week from the Alberta Government of the lifting of restrictions at continuing care facilities was welcomed news by all.

The lifting of restrictions will happen in two phases with the first phase encompassing no visitor limitations and no limits to dining and recreation activities. Plus, residents are no longer required to be screened upon re-entering the building nor have to quarantine if they have been off-site.

Vaccine rates across the region have continued to climb according to the Northwestern Health Unit’s recent vaccine update.

The vaccine rate for adults aged 18 and over is 79.7 per cent at least receiving one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 67.4 per cent being fully immunized against COVID-19

Those aged 12 and over are a little behind at 77.9 per cent receiving their first dose of the vaccine and 63.7 per cent being fully vaccinated.

Bingo halls and casinos across the province were able to welcome people back into their establishments last week as Step Three of the provinces Roadmap to Reopen began.

Golden Eagle Bingo General Manager Cherise Milne and her staff will welcome back patrons today for the first time since November of 2020, as the hall officially opens to in-person bingo.

There were 69 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours with the positivity rate continuing to hold below the one per cent mark.

The total active cases in the province increased by one to 606.

Hospitalizations dropped by two to 98 and ICU admissions increased by one for a total of 27.

Sadly, two additional deaths have been reported bringing the total in the province to 2,318. 

In Cochrane, there are two active cases of the virus while Rocky View County is reporting seven active cases of COVID-19.

Manitoba's public insurer is cautioning drivers about an alarming statistic they have discovered.

When the Public Health Orders loosen the number of people following rules of the road appear to decrease according to Manitoba Public Insurance.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba has dropped.

As of Tuesday morning, there are 36 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba, bringing the total to 57,236 after a data correction.

New cases include: