COVID-19

The 2021 CP Holiday Train has been shifted to a virtual concert event for the second year in a row.

Salem Woodrow, a Canadian Pacific Spokesperson said the decision to shift the event virtual wasn’t easy.

“We are all disappointed, but the spirit of the holiday train program and the Christmas spirit will carry on this year through our virtual concert. We are eager to bring the holiday train back to our communities in Canada and the United States to spread holiday cheer in 2022 and for many years to come,” said Woodrow.

If you are still unvaccinated from COVID-19, you can expect a call from the Ontario Ministry of Health.  

The NWHU announced on Thursday that people who still have not received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can expect a call, the purpose of the phone call will be to clear up any misinformation and allow for a safe conversation with educated healthcare professionals.  

The Kenora Refugee Support Partnership 2 (KRSP2) had to say goodbye to two Syrian refugees after their year-long sponsorship expired.

Ali Alkrad and Nariman Alhalili came to Kenora from Turkey in September of 2020, after fleeing war-torn Syria.

Ren Amell Treasurer of the KRSP2 said that it was hard to see them leave after just starting to get to know them.

As of October 13, 2021 the City of Grande Prairie has 297 active cases of COVID-19, and the County of Grande Prairie has 118 cases.

Cases of COVID-19 across the rest of the province sit at 13,423 active cases. 

Hospitalizations are currently at 1,016, and a total of 231 Albertans are in intensive care receiving treatment. 

The President of Doctors Manitoba says the backlog of surgeries and diagnostic tests in our province continues to grow.

Doctors Manitoba released a report in June that estimated the backlog had reached 110,000. The estimate is now nearing 130,000 procedures, including:

The president of the Manitoba Nurses Union is glad to see an agreement move forward after nurses have been working four and a half years without a contract, but says more work needs to be done.

President Darlene Jackson says after week-long voting, the majority of its members are ratifying a tentative agreement between then and the province, a first since March 31 of 2017.

Two more people have died of COVID-19 as of Thursday morning.

There are 107 new COVID-19 cases as of Thursday morning, bringing the total number of cases to 61,900.

New cases include:

• 45 in Northern Health  24 not fully vaccinated
• 23 in Southern Health 20 not fully vaccinated
• 21 in Winnipeg 13 not fully vaccinated
• 10 in Prairie Mountain  six not fully vaccinated
• eight in Interlake-Eastern with five not fully vaccinated

The Northwestern Health Unit is advising the public of a COVID-19 vaccine walk-in clinic that will be taking place tonight (October 14, 2021) at Beaver Brae Secondary School from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.

First doses:
- Anyone aged 12+ in 2021 can get a first dose

Second doses:
- Anyone aged 12+ in 2021 can get their second dose if they received:
- Pfizer at least 21 days ago or Moderna 28 days ago,
- Or AstraZeneca at least 56 days ago.

Six Cochrane schools are currently listed on the Alberta Health Services (AHS) COVID-19 School Status Map under 'Alert Status.' 

On Tuesday, the Alberta government implemented some changes in reporting active school cases. One change that has taken place is the criteria surrounding 'Alert' versus 'Outbreak' status.

According to provincial leaders, an Outbreak is now classified as 10 or more cases and a school will be placed under an Alert status when between two and nine cases have been identified.

The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed zero new positive COVID-19 cases have been found in the region. 

Currently, there are two active cases connected to the NWHU catchment area.