COVID-19

After nearly two years of increasing restrictions in order to protect against COVID-19, the province has finally begun to ease back into normalcy thanks to increased vaccination rates and decreasing COVID-19 numbers in Ontario.  

In an interview with Q104 on February 17, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health for the province, shared her thoughts about lifting some of the COVID-19 measures such as capacity limits and proof of vaccination.  

There are free take-home COVID-19 rapid tests available today at the Cochrane Community Health Centre.

A drive-thru pickup will be available at the east doors of the health centre located at 60 Grande Blvd. 

They will be available until 4 p.m.

The Ontario government recently announced their plan for a new tax credit that will incentivize people to plan a getaway in Ontario.   

As part of the Fall Economic statement released in early November, the “Ontario Staycation Tax Credit” will allow eligible Ontarians who are planning a getaway within the province in the 2022 tax year, a little bit of a tax break.   

Hospitalization rates in Manitoba continue to decline as the peak of the Omicron wave moves by. 

As of Friday, there are 33 Manitobans in ICU with COVID-19. That number has dropped by five since Thursday.

There are 583 Manitobans in hospital with COVID-19. That number has dropped by 24 since Thursday.

When it comes to hospitalizations and ICU admissions, provincial officials have indicated that many of those in hospital and ICU are there for other medical reasons but then also tested positive for COVID-19.

**Due to the Louis Riel Day holiday, there will be no COVID-19 bulletin Monday, Feb. 21, but will resume Wednesday, Feb. 23. Weekday online data will continue.**

Support from the federal government is helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 in three northern First Nation communities dealing with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Ottawa approved a request for support to bring in members of the Canadian Rangers to Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation and Eabametoong First Nation last week until February 23 and 24, as well as a number of supports for the two communities and Pikangikum First Nation.

Lifting of some provincial restrictions started yesterday, a few days ahead of schedule, however, the NWHU Medical Officer of Health says our region's numbers remain high.  

In a press release, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) explained that despite the provincial COVID-19 numbers decreasing, our region's percent positivity rates remain high as well as the number of hospitalizations.  

Health Minister Copping reported on Tuesday, February 15 that admissions and hospitalizations are on a downward trend.

The trend appears to be continuing with hospitalizations having dropped to 1,491 and ICU admissions down to 116 on Thursday, February 17. 

Total active cases in the province are now at 16,551.

Sadly, another 18 deaths have been reported bringing the total in the province to 3,822. 

Cochrane's active COVID-19 cases have dropped to 143 and Rocky View County is reporting 140 cases. 

Ontario is reporting that hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions due to COVID-19 have dropped to their lowest levels of the year, today.

As of February 17, Ontario says there are currently 1,342 people hospitalized with COVID-19 – the lowest number since January 4, when there were 1,290 hospitalizations. About 48 per cent of hospitalizations were admitted for unrelated reasons but later tested positive.

The Ontario Government is finally lifting some of the province’s COVID-19 restrictions, a few days ahead of schedule.