COVID-19

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported two positive COVID-19 test results in the region. The newly found cases were discovered in 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.

Three total actives cases are now across the NWHU catchment area. One active case in the Kenora Health Region and now two active cases in the Rainy River Health Region.

Last week saw the lowest number of weekly enforcement tickets issued in Manitoba this year.

In the fall of 2020, COVID-19 enforcement tickets were being given out more frequently, with the province continuing to increase the volume. As restrictions loosened tickets lessened. This past week is seeing ticket volumes reminiscent of one year ago.

Last week six tickets and 58 warnings were given out. This includes four $1,296 tickets to individuals, three of which were for gatherings, and failure to wear a mask in an indoor public place. 

The province has reached a milestone marker of 5,056,062 doses of COVID vaccine going into the arms of Albertans.

To date, 74.8 per cent of Albertans have received one COVID vaccine shot while 59.7 per cent of the provincial population are now fully immunized.

Since Friday, the province has reported 130 new cases, 49 Friday, 43 Saturday, and 38 Sunday.

The positivity remains below one per cent.

Total active cases saw a slight uptick since Friday with an increase of 26 cases for a total of 605 in the province.

Soon enough our friends to the south will have the opportunity to travel into Canada for the first time in over a year

Today the federal government announced the Canada/US border will be opened to fully vaccinated Americans starting August 9, 2021, at 12:01 ET and a two-week quarantine will not be needed.

Fully vaccinated tourists from other countries will be allowed to enter Canada starting September 9, 2021.

Northwestern Ontario has been affected by the lack of American tourists due to the border closure.

Upcoming school year vaccination rates for younger and middle year students will remain the same as previous years, but the province does not yet have a plan for them and other classrooms.

The last Manitoban COVID-19 patient being treated in Ontario has returned.

As of Monday morning, there are 143 new COVID-19 cases, including the weekend's cases.

New cases include:

• 62 cases Saturday
• 44 cases Sunday
• 37 cases Monday

Monday's new cases include:

The province is looking to book more COVID-19 vaccines as Manitoba creeps closer to fulfilling its final vaccination goal.

Currently, 77.5 per cent of all Manitobans have received their first COVID-19 vaccine and 61.7 per cent their second dose. The province is 2.5 per cent away from its third and final 4-3-2- One Great Summer Reopening plan's first dose goal of 80 per cent of the population. The second-dose percentage is at 61.7, meaning the province needs to give many more second doses to achieve a 75 per cent uptake rate. 

The executive director of the Mennonite Heritage Village is disappointed in the province's second stage of reopening.

Gary Dyck notes last week all of their indoor facilities were closed, but the grounds and restaurant were open to everyone. He notes stage two has made things more complicated.

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported no new cases since its last update on Friday.

There is a single active case in the Kenora region.

Officials say they are working on a five-year plan towards mental health and recovery, saying Manitobans will see the effects of it starting this year.

The province's Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery department says they are working on an action plan to help Manitobans access mental health services that are needed in a timely matter.

In a Monday morning conference, Nancy Heinrichs, executive director of NorWest Coop Community Health, joined Minister Audrey Gordon saying they have seen a massive increase in counselling requests over the past year.