COVID-19

Quebec announced earlier this week they plan on charging citizens who won't get vaccinated against COVID-19, for non-medical reasons with a financial penalty.

Justin Brattiga, Press Secretary for the Premier, commented in a written statement, “Alberta has not considered and is not considering bringing in any kind of non-compliance vaccine tax.”

In a recent town hall via Facebook Live, Premiere Jason Kenney added that this tax is against Canadian principles.

The Northwestern Health Unit saw the active COVID-19 case count slightly rise to 352, after reporting 55 new cases in the region Thursday. 

16 were found in the Fort Frances Health Hub, 14 in the Sioux Lookout Health Hub, 10 in the Kenora Health Hub, six in the Dryden Health Hub, three each in the Red Lake and Rainy River Health Hubs, two in the Emo Health Hub, and one in Atikokan Health Hub. 

There are eight people hospitalized from COVID-19 in the region. 

Kenora Fire and Emergency Services Chief, Kent Readman presented City Council his 2021 fourth-quarter report on Tuesday at a Committee of the Whole Meeting.

The report detailed staffing levels, training, call volumes, response times, and fire prevention.

Readman detailed staffing levels as his first area of focus and said levels have remained consistent.

“Our full-time staff is up with the addition of a new Deputy Chief we're one position short, which should be filled relatively shortly,” Readman said.

The Chinook's Edge Board of Trustees has approved a three-year project that would allow six Social Emotional Specialists to be hired through the use of reserves.

The COVID-19 numbers continue to rise dramatically in the province with 61,229 active cases in Alberta.

The province is reporting another 6,789 new cases on January 12, 2022, with a positivity rate of 38 per cent. 

Hospitalizations increased by 40 admissions in the past 24 hours for a total of 748 while ICU patients increased by two to 82. 

The death toll continues to rise with another 15 deaths reported for a total of 3,367.

The only number that dropped was Cochrane's active case count which decreased by five to 468. 

Public Health is switching gears as cases increase to a community approach, saying their ability to contain COVID-19 is limited.

Premier Heather Stefanson, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon, Deputy Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal, and Vaccine Implementation Task Force medical lead Dr. Joss Reimer are joining together to update the province on COVID-19 measures.

Public health officials advise four new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Tuesday);
a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday);
a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region (reported Wednesday); and
a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Oakview Place (reported Wednesday).

A Winnipeg restaurant is facing fines worth up to $1 million.

Monstrosity Burger, also known as Tuxedo Village Family Restaurant, is facing an “Information laid” charge, with (additional Public Health charges against it. This fine is given to businesses for repeated offences. This fine carries a maximum $1-million penalty.

The Ontario government has stayed true to its word, and elementary, and secondary students will return to in-person learning on Monday, January 17, 2022, as planned with strong protection in place.

Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce made it official at a media conference on Wednesday.

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has confirmed 19 new COVID-19 cases have been found in the region Wednesday. 

Six cases were found in the Kenora Health Hub, three each in the Red Lake and Sioux Lookout Health Hubs, two in both the Fort Frances and Rainy River Health Hubs, and one each in the Dryden, Emo, and Atikokan Health Hubs. 

Currently, there are 346 active cases connected to the NWHU catchment area. There are eight people hospitalized from COVID-19 in the region, up one from Tuesday's update.