COVID-19

In the City of Grande Prairie, six new COVID-19 cases were reported today (May 31), and four people recovered. The active total is 91 with 3,745 recoveries.  

In the County of Grande Prairie, seven new cases were added, and no one recovered. There are now 53 active cases and 1313 recoveries. 

Peace Region totals: 

There are 308 people in Manitoban hospitals receiving care for COVID-19. 

Public health officials advise one new death in a person with COVID-19 has been reported today:
• a male in his 70s from the Interlake-Eastern health region, linked to the B.1.1.7 variant of concern.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 12.1 per cent provincially and 13.7 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 303 new cases of the virus have been identified. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 51,090.

Public Health is announcing the next round of eligibility for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Starting at 11:45 on Tuesday, those who received their first COVID-19 vaccine on or before April 13 will be able to book their second dose. Second-dose eligibility continues to include people meeting specific health conditions and all Indigenous Manitobans. 

Those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine can get the other mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer or Moderna once they become eligible.

The Northwestern Health Unit has announced zero new cases of COVID-19 in its catchment area today. 

The region has also seen a dramatic drop in active cases. We currently have 12 active cases, down nine from yesterday's 21. 

There are 9 in the Kenora region, 2 in the Sioux Lookout region and 1 in Atikokan. As of today, 63% of residents aged 12 and over have received their first dose of the vaccine. 

Beaver Brae’s unique ACE program to assist at-risk youth is still up and running after some innovation from staff, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beaver Brae Secondary School’s Academic Connections for Empowerment program, or ACE, was developed and is operated in partnership with WJS Canada within an office on Lakeview Drive. WJS provides the funding, and the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board provides the teacher.

The Northwestern Health Unit is be hosting two more walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Dryden today and tomorrow.

The clinics will run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dryden Memorial Arena on Monday, May 31 and Tuesday, June 1. They’re open to anyone that is 12 years old or older and their families, who haven’t received their first dose of the vaccine.

No appointment is needed, and all residents are reminded to wear a mask and bring their Ontario Health Card and additional photo identification. You’re asked to dress for the weather and bring a snack.

Manitoba Public health officials announced seven new deaths in people with COVID-19 this Sunday. The list includes:

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported two cases of COVID-19 across the region.

A case has been discovered in each of the Kenora and Sioux Lookout Health Hubs.

There are currently 21 active cases across the district. 14 cases in the Kenora Health Hub, six cases in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub and one case in the Atikokan Health Hub.

Follow-up with the person involved and their contacts has started according to protocols, and anyone identified as a contact for these cases will be reached directly by public health staff.

The further extension of the abatement of the tourism levy will continue to assist hotels and other lodging providers in trying times.

Last week, the government announced the companies will continue to keep the tourism levy they collect until the end of June. It had previously been extended to the end of May.

1 Kings 19:11–13

God often delivers His best gifts to us in unexpected ways ... with surprises inside the wrappings. Through apparent contradictions. Somewhat like the therapy, He used when Elijah was so low and so terribly disillusioned.