COVID-19

The province says they won’t be forcing healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

A statement from Premier Doug Ford says the province consulted with every hospital CEO in Ontario to ask their input on whether or not Ontario should impose a mandatory vaccine policy for healthcare staff.

In a later than usual daily update, staff with the Northwestern Health Unit are reporting one new case of COVID-19 in the Dryden – Red Lake region.

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

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area is currently on track with the provincial numbers when it comes to first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.  

From statistics provided by the NWHU, 128,819 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in our region as of November 4, 2021.  

Albertans now require two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines or a negative rapid test to get into businesses that are utilizing the Restriction Exemption Program (REP).

Starting on November 15th, Albertans will also require a QR code that digitally signifies a person’s vaccination status. Here’s some information you may want to know about the QR codes.

What is a QR code and how does it work?

By definition ‘QR’ means ‘quick response’ and it is a type of barcode that allows for quick information transfer to a device.

More Albertans will soon be eligible to book a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the provincial government, receiving the third dose will help boost immunity levels and improve protection. 

Starting Nov. 8, the following Albertans will be eligible to book a third dose: 

• All Albertans aged 70 and older 

• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) people aged 18 and older 

Two-thirds of Thursday's new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba are in people who are not fully vaccinated, and everyone with active cases in intensive care is not vaccinated.

There are 154 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba. This brings the total number of cases to 64,083.

Cases by heath region include:

• 70 in Southern
• 33 in Winnipeg
• 21 in Northern
• 15 in Interlake-Eastern
• 15 in Prairie Mountain

Out of the new cases, 102 people are not fully vaccainted.

Whether you are planning on buying or selling your home, the prospect of starting the process can be really daunting; mortgage rates, down payments, staging and preparing your home for sale, the cost of moving, the flexibility and at time uncertainty of the housing market. There are just so many things to think about.

Rocky View Schools (RVS) has finalized the details surrounding proof of vaccination within their facilities.

On October 12 the division amped up its COVID protocols and announced that a mandatory vaccination policy would be coming for staff, parents/guardians and school volunteers.

A timeline has now been established and according to a release from RVS Superintendent Greg Luterbach, teachers, staff and volunteers over the age of 18 have until the start of the new year to transition.

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc throughout Canada creating lockdowns, job losses, illness and many other factors.

LifeWorks released their latest Mental Health Index and it showed some staggering numbers involving stress in the workplace due to COVID-19.

The key insight in the publication is, older employees are more likely to consider leaving a job because of feeling underappreciated.

Officials including Premier Kenney, Health Minister Copping, and Dr. Hinshaw took to the podium today (Wednesday, November 3). The COVID-19 update contained a thank-you to Albertans for bending the curve, encouraging numbers, and an expansion to the parameters of the vaccination program.

Premier Kenney said, “We’re now about three weeks out from Thanksgiving and have seen no evidence of a Thanksgiving spike. I would like to thank all Albertans for doing their part in protecting each other and our healthcare system.”