COVID-19

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported no new cases of COVID-19 in the region, as the active case count declines.

There are currently 14 active cases in the region.

Provincewide 573 cases of COVID-19 were reported, 381 of those cases are amoung those that are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or those whose vaccination status is unknown. 192 fully vaccinated people were diagnosed with COVID-19 today.

Tuesday morning will be the next time the health unit is expected to report cases of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will be introducing mandatory vaccination requirements for all travellers next month.

By the end of November, anyone over the age of 12 will be required to be fully vaccinated to travel by plane or by train, and COVID-19 rapid testing before boarding will no longer be an option.

Businesses across Alberta participating in the Restriction Exemption Program will receive funds, gain access to a training grant for employees, and more.

Premier Jason Kenney was joined by Minister of Health Jason Copping, Cheif Medical Officer of Health Doctor Deena Hinshaw, and Doug Schweitzer the Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation.

Kenney spoke first, updating Albertans on the Restriction Exemption Program (REP), which was introduced in mid-September, and how it's affected vaccination rates in the province.

For more than 100 years the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association (MRMTA) has been providing top quality music education throughout the Province of Manitoba. This vibrant organization has been offering professional development opportunities and support for Music Teachers, as well as encouraging young artists to grow and flourish as musicians.

Australia is under some of the toughest COVID restrictions in the world, but a worship band is praising God in the midst of the storm. 

Joshua Brown is the keyboard player for the Australian worship band Planetshakers. 

"Planetshakers started off as a conference. Pastor Russell felt God say be obedient and do a conference. All these youth groups encountered God. They went back and the parents were saying the kids are different. When God touches your life, stuff happens," says Brown.

A local actress has had her dreams come true as she played a role in the 2021 film Flag Day that included some start-studded actors.

Dryden resident Shirley McLean was chosen to play a background role in the parade scene in the movie. The film featured Hollywood actors Sean Penn, his daughter Dylan Penn, and actress Julia Roberts husband Daniel Moder as a cameraman, which McLean said was a highlight of her career.

The final COVID-19 update before the Thanksgiving long weekend provided some very cautious optimism tempered with extreme concern that any gains made over the past couple of weeks may all be lost over this weekend.

The fact that Thanksgiving of 2020 brought on the second wave of the pandemic last fall has officials deeply concerned that Thanksgiving 2021 could be devastating to any tenuous progress made with the latest restrictions in place.

As of October 6, 2021 the City of Grande Prairie has 467 active cases of COVID-19, and the County of Grande Prairie has 232 cases.

Cases of COVID-19 across the rest of the province sit at 18,411 active cases. 

Hospitalizations are currently at 1,094, and a total of 248 Albertans are in intensive care receiving treatment. 

During the COVID-19 update today (Thursday, October 7), the province announced help for businesses to implement the vaccine Restrictions Exemption Program.

Following town hall meetings with Alberta businesses, Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer explained the government’s plan to help Alberta businesses to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP).  Steps that will offset the cost of the implementation plus support for employers and employees.

A northern Manitoban community is facing tight restrictions after a jump in COVID-19 cases.

As of Friday morning, there are 132 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba. 

New cases include: