COVID-19

The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting one new case of COVID-19 in the region, as the active case count falls to three.

The new case is in the Dryden - Red Lake region.

Follow up with the person involved and their contacts has started according to protocol. Anyone who is identified as a contact for this case will be contacted directly.

Alberta is reporting 1,300 new COVID-19 cases since Friday.

Businesses looking to upgrade their staff's skills can turn to a new provincial program to help cover the cost.

The provincial government is looking to help Manitoban's "move to the next stage of economic recovery." Economic Development and Jobs Minister Jon Reyes is announcing businesses can receive reimbursements for up to $2,500 per employee, for a maximum of $75,000, for training.

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

For the first time ever, there are more new COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated Manitobans than those who are not vaccinated at all. However, the number of intensive care hospitalizations for those fully vaccinated remains low.

"We see constantly that the risks, particularly of the severe outcomes, are much much higher in those who are not vaccinated, but the risks are not zero in people who are vaccinated," Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical co-lead of Manitoba's vaccine task force says in a Wednesday press conference.

Since March of 2020, fully vaccinated Canadians can finally enter the United States through a land or sea crossing for non-essential travel as of today (November 8, 2021).

On October 12, 2021, the announcement was made by the US Department of Homeland Security to open the land and ferry crossings to Canada and Mexico.

The United States is considering Canadians who have mixed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be fully vaccinated. 

The Northwestern Health Unit has discovered one new COVID-19 case in the region over the weekend. 

The newly found case was found in the Dryden/Red Lake Health Region. 

Follow up with the person involved and their contacts has started according to protocol. Anyone who is identified as a contact for this case will be contacted directly.

Currently, the region is sitting at five active cases connected to the NWHU catchment area. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a mass amount of stress for Canadians causing job loss, financial instability, and many unknowns.

Food Banks of Canada issued their 2021 Hunger Count report that showed COVID-19 caused a 20 per cent increase from the same count from 2019. In 2021 approximately over 1.3 million visits were made to food banks across Canada.

Al Huckabay is the Manager of the Dryden Food Bank and he said he has seen a significant increase in users.

The Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC) has announced reduced hours for its aquatic centre that come into effect on Monday, Nov. 8.

The aquatic centre will be closed from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays.

These are the new temporary hours:

Mon. -Thurs.: 6 a.m.- 1 p.m. & 4 - 9 p.m.

Fri. - Sun.: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Holidays (including Remembrance Day): 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The SLSFSC facility hours are:

Mon. - Sun.: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Holidays: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

People who provide care to loved ones in Manitoba care homes will soon need to be fully vaccinated to continue doing so.

Global News reports that starting November 15, designated family caregivers will need to show proof of vaccination before going into a facility.

Currently, staff at personal care homes have to either be fully vaccinated or tested regularly.