COVID-19

Heading into the summer season, CochraneNow checked in with Cochrane RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff to see how Cochrane is faring from the detachment's viewpoint.

High numbers of vaccination rates have led to lower COVID-19 case numbers across the Northwestern Health Unit catchment area. As of yesterday, there is only 4 active cases across the region.

At a media briefing, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of the NWHU detailed why case numbers are coming down.

“Low case numbers are good to see, its means what we're doing is working and a large part of low case numbers is due to vaccination,” she explains

Dr. Young Hoon urges the public to see these low case numbers as a call to action and not get complacent.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided an in-person update for Tuesday, June 8.  It was an encouraging update as COVID-19 numbers continue to trend downward. 

Cochrane Generals head coach and general manager Kurtis Jones never truly shut off the engine when the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) pulled the plug on its season in February. Now he's shifting into higher gears as the pieces start to fall into place for the 2021-22 season.

"It's hard sitting behind a computer and doing all the work away from the rink, but now I'm happy. Hopefully, everything pans out here with the pandemic, and we can get going with hockey once we get that 100 per cent approval."

With the easing of COVID-19 health restrictions, Cochrane Crush minor ball teams are poised to return to the diamonds this weekend to play their first games of the season.

While they are awaiting final word from the province, all of their Little League minor and major teams, as well as their U13AAA and U15AA Baseball Alberta teams, have games scheduled.

The minor and major teams are playing in town and the Baseball Alberta teams are on the road.

Close to a third of Manitoba's COVID-19 hospitalizations are people in intensive care.

Dauphin schools will continue learning remotely until June 21, as the province says COVID-19 cases are elevated in the community. 

As of Tuesday morning, Manitoba's five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12 per cent and Winnipeg's 12.6 per cent. The province is announcing 237 new cases.

New cases include:

Alberta Health Services is holding a three-day, first-dose vaccination blitz at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary.

It is for anyone who has not yet received their first COVID vaccination shot.

Albertans are encouraged to go to the Convention Centre from Tuesday, June 8 to Thursday, June 10 between 8:20 am and 7:30 pm no appointment is necessary.

The clinics are for the first dose only of Pfizer immunizations.

Albertans are encouraged to protect themselves and protect others by getting vaccinated.

The Province of Ontario has announced that it will move ahead with Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen ahead of schedule, and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford is praising his riding. 

"With this June 11 re-opening news, I want to thank everyone across the northwest for their efforts in abiding by the guidelines and working so hard at getting our cases to a bare minimum across the region."

Manitoba's Premier is announcing how Manitobans can soon visit loved ones in the hospital and care homes.

COVID-19 enforcement officials had a busy week giving out more than 200 warnings and 131 tickets.