COVID-19

Officials announced today that second dose COVID0-19 vaccinations have been moved ahead by a week.

This means effective immediately, anyone who was vaccinated in April or earlier can now book their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Another 650,000 people are now eligible to be immunized against the virus. 

Expanded vaccine eligibility and an issue with the provincial booking system resulted in long wait times today at the Kenora mass vaccination clinic

Residents showed up in droves upon hearing that vaccine eligibility expanded for walk-in clinics. This combined with appointments booked through the provincial booking system resulted in walk-in clients waiting upwards of fours hour to get their shot, while those with appointments waited close to two hours for their poke.

Winnipeg continues to see the highest new COVID-19 case numbers.

After years of no contract, nurses have turned out in record numbers to vote in favour of a strike.

Without a contract for four years, the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) says they want a fair contract. As of Thursday morning, 98 per cent of Manitoban nurses are in favour of striking.

“We were painted into a corner by this government, and we were left with no choice but to act," MNU President Darlene Jackson says in Thursday's announcement. “Our commitment, as always, is to our patients and Manitobans can be assured that we will not be disrupting patient care.”

A 34-year-old man is in custody after a series of erratic behaviour, including stealing an ambulance from a hospital and threatening a homeowner with a neighbour's axe.

On Wednesday afternoon, an ambulance from Brandon was parking in the Health Sciences Centre's loading zone. As the paramedics were sitting in the vehicle, a man approached them, asking for help.

Next, the man climbed into the back of the ambulance, making his way to the driver's seat. The paramedics immediately exited the ambulance for their safety. Around 2 p.m. the Winnipeg Police Service was called.

Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin are announcing what summer in Manitoba could look like.

After weeks of hinting, the province is unveiling a plan called The 4-3-2-One Great Summer Reopening Path. This plan highlights vaccination targets and when the province could be seeing loosened Public Health Orders.

A whole new realm of possibilities has opened for Albertans today as we enter Stage two of our three-part plan to reopening the province.

Movie theatres, casinos and museums, are being allowed to reopen at one-third capacity.

We can dine IN a restaurant again and not base our dining out experience on the weather.

Private social gatherings can have up to 20 people as long as it's outdoors.

We can go to the gym again!

All of the restrictions have been lifted on youth and adult sports.

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported 2 new positive COVID-19 cases in the catchment area.

The positive cases have been identified as being in the Kenora Health Hub region.

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

Currently, the district has 4 active cases in the catchment area. Two in the Kenora Health Hub, one in the Dryden Health Hub, and one in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub.

The Northwestern Health Unit has once again expanded eligibility at a number of walk-in clinics this week.

Anyone who received their first dose on or before May 9 is eligible to receive their second dose at the following walk-in clinics:

June 10

Fort Frances at St. Francis School from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Kenora at the recreation centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - This clinic has reached capacity and can no longer offer walk-in vaccinations. 

Machin at the arena from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

June 11

Earlier this week, Manitoba Premier announced that a secure immunization card will allow Manitobans to travel within Canada without self-isolating.

Brian Pallister says fully immunized Manitobans will now be able to travel without having to self-isolate for two weeks upon return with a new, secure immunization card that will be available to people two weeks after they have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.