COVID-19

A financial incentive to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is being offered by the Bearspaw First Nation for residents of the Stoney Nakoda Nation.

Two grand prizes of $2,500 each have been contributed through the Bearspaw First Nation Travel Centre and Bearspaw First Nation Service Centre. All Stoney band members of Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Wesley Nations over 12 years old who are eligible to be vaccinated will be entered into the draw. To collect the prizes, proof of vaccination will be required.

The draw is being made on July 30 at 12 noon.

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

Two cases are in the Kenora region and two cases are in the Dryden/Red Lake region.

Mayor Jeff Genung feels both relieved and cautiously optimistic with the announcement that health restrictions are being lifted on Canada Day.

"I'm cautiously optimistic because we've been in these good news situations before, and I don't want to be Mr. Doomsday today at all. This is a good day. We're certainly trending in the right direction," says Mayor Genung.  

Travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border will remain in place for at least another month to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday as he acknowledged growing frustration with how the issue was being managed.

The measures at the border to limit non-essential international travel have been in place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with the latest extension set to expire on Monday.

On Friday morning, the measures got another one-month extension until July 21.

While welcoming the lifting of most health restrictions, Alberta Health minister Tyler Shandro reminded Albertans that COVID is still very much with us.

"COVID will continue to be something we have to manage, something we have to respond to, like any other communicable infection. But that's the point. We're transitioning from a pandemic that changes everything about how we live, to a virus that we control with vaccinations, and learning to live with, like other infectious diseases and other health problems."

Canada Day and summer will be extra special in Alberta this year.

This afternoon, Premier Jason Kenney has announced Alberta's public health measures will be lifted on July 1 in Alberta and says our lives will get back to normal.

On June 17, Alberta surpassed the 70 per cent threshold to trigger stage 3 of Alberta's Open for Summer Plan, with 70. 2 per cent eligible Albertans receiving their first vaccine dose.

He says this may even be the best Alberta summer ever.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires says families who depend on child care over the summer will be able to take advantage of the reopening of different child care facilities.

"Because of the efforts we have all made to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Public Health has advised that beginning July 1, school-aged children will be able to return to their child care programming. This includes full-time childcare for July and August," Squires says in a Friday press conference.

School-age children can return to different child care options next month.

Manitoba's  five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 8.3 per cent.

Youth COVID-19 vaccinations continue to be on hold as Manitoba anticipates an upcoming Pfizer slow down.

As announced Thursday, Manitoba will experience a slowdown in Pfizer shipments in the second week of July. As a result, Manitobans ages 12-17 are not able to make second-dose vaccination appointments.

"Young people aged 12 to 17 must continue to receive Pfizer for both doses, as this is currently the only vaccine approved for use in this age group," the province says in a Friday statement.

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported 1 new positive COVID-19 test result in the district.

The confirmed positive test result was identified in the Sioux Lookout region.

Currently, the NWHU catchment area has 8 active cases. Three in the Kenora Health Region, three in the Rainy River Health Region, and two cases are in the Sioux Lookout Health Region.