COVID-19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made for a difficult 15 months for people around the world. In the midst of darkness and uncertainty, however, people are turning to the light.

While there was previously a decline in readership of the Bible, the American Bible Soceity says more than 181 million Americans have opened the book in the past year, Mission Network News reports.

Premier Jason Kenney talked about a lottery last week to encourage more Albertans to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine so the province could climb past the 70 percent threshold to remove all public health restrictions this summer.  

On Saturday, June 12, the Premier came through when he announced a multi-million dollar lottery will begin in Alberta.

Kenney said more details on the "Open for Summer Vaccine Lottery" would come in the days ahead but did reveal some information in a video posted on his Twitter account. 

Public health officials advise five new deaths in persons with COVID-19 have been reported today:

Government projections show COVID-19 hospitalizations in Manitoba are expected to remain unsustainably high for several weeks.

New modelling data suggest intensive-care admissions could stay at severe levels for some time even without taking into consideration the effect of variants that are more contagious and could make patients sicker.

However, case counts and testing volumes are on the decline, indicating diminished spread of the virus.

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

The positive test result has been confirmed in the Emo Health Hub.

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

There are 5 active cases in the NWHU catchment area. Three in the Kenora Health Hub, one in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub and 1 now in the Emo Health Hub.

As we head into the first weekend of Stage Two of Open for Summer, COVID-19 numbers continue to trend in the right direction.

The province reported 170 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours with a positivity rate of 2.5%, the lowest percentage seen in a long time.

Hospitalizations have dropped below the 300 mark to 296 and ICU admissions have also decreased to 79.

Another 3 deaths have been reported for a total of 2,265 in the province.

Adults, juniors, and minis players alike have started to return to the pitch to warm up to the rugby season.

Bow Valley Rugby Club (BVRC) manager Francine Horton says it will be a different looking season, but it's being greeted with enthusiasm. Registration remains open, and she says their attempting to offer something for everyone, whether it be touch or contact rugby.

The leader of the People's Party of Canada is in police custody.

Maxime Bernier, the party's leader, was arrested Friday afternoon in Manitoba. St. Pierre RCMP officers took him into custody outside of the town after Bernier held a small rally.

MAD MAD MANITOBA TOUR

Thank you to the residents of St-Pierre-Jolys (1k pop) who came to meet me!

Merci aux résidents de St-Pierre-Jolys (1k ha.) qui sont venus à ma rencontre! pic.twitter.com/DG0uCrfUyX

Public Health is recommending people hold off on graduation plans until August or September to have "a better celebration" with more people.

The day most teenagers look forward is looming closer for some graduates, but celebrations are further off. Many families may be waiting for restrictions are set to loosen with July 1 vaccination targets but Manitoba's Deputy Chief Public Health Officer is recommending holding off longer for the time being.

The province's five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is under 11 per cent, the first time in weeks.

Public health officials advise two new deaths in persons with COVID-19 have been reported today:
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region; and
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern.