COVID-19

The Government of Ontario has extended a number of COVID-19 restrictions that were set to expire on June 2, including the ban on people entering Ontario for non-essential reasons.

In total, nine regulations under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act have been extended and will now expire on June 16, 2021.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford said in a Facebook post this afternoon that the border closure could be extended again in 14-day increments and encourages area residents to only travel to Manitoba for essential reasons.

The Government of Ontario has extended a number of COVID-19 restrictions that were set to expire on June 2, including the ban on people entering Ontario for non-essential reasons.

In total, nine regulations under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act have been extended and will now expire on June 16, 2021.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford said in a Facebook post this afternoon that the border closure could be extended again in 14-day increments and encourages area residents to only travel to Manitoba for essential reasons.

The province announced 357 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths related to the virus today.

The death toll includes:

As other provinces announce plans and goals for re-opening, acting provincial health minister Kelvin Goertzen says Manitoba’s plans are in the works.

"I recognize that there continues to be frustration around restrictions. It's hard when we see other provinces around us reopening, and with their reopening plans, and we will have a reopening plan as well and you'll see it relatively soon."

Manitoba's acting health minister is addressing conversations of an oxygen shortage at Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) caused by an influx in severe COVID-19 cases being admitted to the hospital.

Kelvin Goertzen says there's no question, the facility between Winkler and Morden has been under stress lately.

"They did have a high usage, my understanding is, on oxygen. They always maintain a reserve supply of oxygen and I understand that they had gone into that reserve supply, which is unusual for them," said Goertzen.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries says there are several COVID-19 cases at the liquor distribution centre in the province.

A spokesperson for MBLL says that since May 18, they have identified six positive COVID-19 cases among 125 employees at the centre.

The province said earlier in the week that it can temporarily close businesses and workplaces when COVID-19 transmission is occurring.

The provincial government was not immediately available for comment.

The family of a 43-year-old Winnipeg man says he was transferred to hospital in Ontario shortly after being hospitalized.

Miles Kasprick's sister says she isn't sure where he contracted COVID-19 a little more than one week ago, but his reaction to the virus was severe.

Charlene Covell says her brother was put in a medically induced coma only two days before his COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

She says due to the ongoing strain placed on Manitoba's ICU capacity, Kasprick was flown out to a hospital in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Alberta Health Services says it has withdrawn its contempt of court application against a Calgary pastor who was arrested earlier this month on allegations of violating COVID-19 laws.

Tim Stephens was arrested May 9 for allegedly organizing a church service that was held earlier in the day at Fairview Baptist Church, which police said did not comply with public health orders.

An injunction obtained by Alberta Health Services on May 6 mandated that event organizers comply with public health restrictions, including masking, physical distancing, and attendance limits.

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported one case of COVID-19 in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub.

There are 19 active cases of COVID-19 across the district. 13 cases in the Kenora Health Hub, five 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.

In the City of Grande Prairie, four new COVID-19 cases were reported today (May 28), and 11 people recovered. The active total is 106 with 3,715 recoveries.  

In the County of Grande Prairie, eight new cases were added, and eight people recovered. There are now 53 active cases and 1303 recoveries. 

Provincially, Alberta reported 512 new cases from 7,703 tests completed and our positivity rate is about 7.7 per cent. Right now, 8,760 cases are active in the province. With 1,245 more people recovering, the recovered total has reached 214,966.