COVID-19

Where a Manitoban can get a COVID-19 vaccine is changing as the province looks to expand its reach.

Manitobans who received their first COVID-19 vaccine on or before April 20 can now receive their second dose, along with previously announced reliability that includes all Indigenous people and those with specific health conditions. 

For the third straight day, the Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed and reported zero new cases of COVID-19 across the district.

Case counts of the novel coronavirus continue to decline in the NWHU catchment area as well. There are 10 active cases across the district. There are 7 active cases across the Kenora Health Hub, 2 active cases in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub, and 1 active case across the Atikokan Health Hub.

Canada has approved the mixing and matching of COVID-19 vaccines if needed.

On June 1, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization updated its guidance to provinces and territories, saying a first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine can be followed by a dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

"Brutal" is how one doctor described this past weekend's activity at the Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) in Winkler, Man.

Dr. Ganesen Abbu, the special care unit lead at BTHC, says they had to transfer six patients suffering from the COVID-19 virus to intensive care units in Winnipeg between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. He says that accounted for about 20 per cent of all ICU admissions in Manitoba over those three days.

Dr. Abbu says one of the things they saw this past weekend among younger COVID patients was a more rapid deterioration of their condition.

Dr. Hinshaw took to the podium on Tuesday, June 1 following the announcement of second-dose vaccinations being made available for Albertans. 

She explained that due to the declining number of new cases, the testing for variants of concern will once again be expanded to ensure a safe path to reopening.

In the City of Grande Prairie, three new COVID-19 cases were reported today (June 1), and 13 people recovered. The active total is 81 with 3,758 recoveries.  

In the County of Grande Prairie, five new cases were added, and five people recovered. There are now 53 active cases and 1318 recoveries. 

Peace Region totals: 

Officials announced today, (Tuesday, June 1) that Albertans will be able to book their second dose of the COVID vaccine on a staggered basis.

Albertans will be able to schedule second-dose appointments in the order they received their first doses.

All Albertans will soon be able to receive a second dose of vaccine, helping fully protect them and all Albertans from COVID-19. 

Alberta’s vaccine rollout continues to reach new milestones, with more than 2.8 million doses administered to date and 63.4 per cent of Albertans aged 12-plus having received at least one dose. 

Albertans will be able to schedule second-dose appointments in the order they received their first doses. 

The Winnipeg Jets will not be playing in an empty arena on Wednesday.

Five hundred fully vaccinated healthcare workers could be present for this and next Wednesday's games against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Winnipeg Jets say up to 500 fans will be in the arena for Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup series Round 2.

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The 42nd session of Manitoba's spring legislature is coming to a close with remarks from the Premier.

Premier Brian Pallister is officially calling a close to the third 42nd session of Legislature. 

"This session featured the most robust and I think ambitious legislative agenda very likely in decades," Pallister says in a Tuesday press conference.

Pallister says healthcare has been a priority in this session, thanking Ontario and Saskatchewan, as well as the federal government, for their help to care for sick Manitobans.