COVID-19

A safe campus environment and healthy student experience is top of mind for Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) as the countdown to the Fall 2021 semester begins. As Alberta’s latest polytechnic institution prepares for the return of in-person learning in September, a creative campaign to encourage students to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 infection has been launched.   

An organization connecting regional health authorities says hospitals are continuing an unprecedented trend of critically high hospitalizations.

Shared Health says more than half a dozen people were admitted to ICU in one day. 

"Seven COVID patients were admitted to ICU in a 24-hour period ending midday Monday, continuing an unprecedented trend that has seen admission numbers well above normal. These admissions are in addition to non-COVID patients who require intensive care," Shared Health says in a statement.

It's the day most Ontarians have waited for since April 8, 2021. Tomorrow marks the official end of the mandated stay-at-home order, and residents can feel some glimpse of hope for a somewhat normal summer.

The Ontario government announced on May 20th, 2021 their plan to safely reopen the province, and phase 1 of that plan officially begins in the week of June 14, 2021.

So, what happens between the stay-at-home order ending tomorrow and phase 1 beginning?

Two local sisters and their families are $70,000 richer after their lucky numbers were drawn in the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s tenth 50/50 draw.

Sisters Tammy Shine of Fort Frances and Joleen Helliar of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls’ lucky number of J-3236148 was drawn on 11 a.m. on May 31, winning $70,762.

“We’ve been supporting for months now. We buy from you, Dryden, Fort, Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout,” said Shine. “This is definitely life-changing for sure and gives us a much-needed breather! Thank you!”

Police say a Winnipeg Transit bus was in a dangerous situation as passengers and the driver were threatened by an unruly passenger demanding the bus drive faster.

After midnight on Tuesday, a woman, whom the Winnipeg Police Service says appeared intoxicated, boarded a bus at Osborne Street and Morley Avenue. As they drove along the road, the passenger began acting unruly, agitating the other passengers.

The woman then began making her way up the bus, throwing food at the driver. She was demanding the driver go faster.

Residents across northwestern Ontario will be able to get their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine today, pending eligibility.

The Northwestern Health Unit is hosting three walk-in clinics in the region, including one in Kenora, one in Dryden and one in Rainy River.

Manitoba is seeing its highest number of enforcement tickets given out in one week to date.

Between May 24 and May 30, for the first time ever, more tickets than warnings were given out to people not following the Public Health Orders. Officials say 161 tickets and 150 warnings were given last week.

Of the tickets handed out, 144 $1,296 tickets to individuals were given out. One business ticket was given to an R.M of Bifrost church.

For the second consecutive day, the Northwestern Health Unit has reported there are no new cases of COVID-19 across the district.

Active case counts continue to decline too. There are 10 active cases across the district. There are seven active cases are in the Kenora Health Hub, two active cases are in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub and one active case is in the Atikokan Health Hub.

Members of the Cochrane and District Horticultural Society went through many hoops to produce a winner of a sale to help the Cochrane Public Library.

About 40-members strong, the society offered over 300 items in a plant and seed sale, from indoor and outdoor plants to supplies and books.

They received a strong response and raised $687 for the public library.

There was plenty of back and forth involved in pulling off the sale, especially with COVID-19 restrictions being a moving target.

Monday, May 31 saw 263 new cases reported in the province in the past 24 hours.

Hospitalizations continue to drop with seven less and a total of 439.

ICU admissions have decreased by five for a total of 133.

The province has 7,646 active cases.

Sadly, eight more deaths including three people in their 50s were reported today (Monday, May 31), bringing the province's death toll to 2,227. 

To date, close to 2.8 million Albertans have been vaccinated.