COVID-19

Leadership from the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) have confirmed they will once again be readjusting how they report COVID-19 in the region.

Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health for the NWHU said starting next week a COVID-19 update will only be released on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Currently, the health unit is focusing on hospitalizations and occupancy levels within their COVID-19 update, and not so much case counts.

You will have to hold on to your recyclables for the next couple of days. 

Temporary closure of the Cochrane Eco Centre is happening today (Thursday, January 27) and Friday, January 28.

The centre is experiencing a staffing shortage and in the interest of public safety and service delivery has closed temporarily.

The closure will be reevaluated on January 28 to determine if it will be extended into the weekend.

The Eco Centre thanks residents for their patience as they pivot and maneuver the challenges caused by the staffing shortage. 

Three new COVID-19-related hospitalizations have been reported in the region, says the Northwestern Health Unit.

The current 7-day per cent positivity rate is listed as 24.2 per cent.

The NWHU says currently there are:

On Wednesday, January 26, sadly another 22 COVID-19 deaths have been reported. With victims aging in rage from 40 to 80. 

In the past seven days, 76 Albertans have died and the total number of deaths in the province is at 3,505. 

The province is reporting 3,341 new COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 37 per cent. 

Hospitalizations continue to rise with 1,418 admissions and there are now 109 patients in ICU. 

Active cases continue to decrease and have fallen below 50,000 to 47,743.

Leadership with the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre and the Northwestern Health Unit have declared a COVID-19 outbreak in one section of the hospital.

The outbreak has taken place on the southpod wing of the inpatient unit. It was identified after two patients tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days, which falls under the outbreak definition provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

***Manitoba continues to report on the recorded number of COVID-19 cases. However, it is important to note this data is limited and should be used with caution. It includes cases confirmed by a PCR test as well as rapid tests given by health care professionals. Positive test results from rapid antigen tests, which people generally do at home, are not collected or reported. As a result, these numbers are an under-reporting of COVID-19 in the community.***

Public health officials advise 10 new deaths in people with COVID-19 are being reported today:

Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer says they will be updating the public health orders in the coming days.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer says during a Wednesday press conference that updated health order will be coming. The current orders expire on Tuesday.

Roussin would not say if there would be changes to gatherings, entertainment venues, or business. He says the province will need to give people time to prepare before the new orders come out.

COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the region have fallen to zero, says the Northwestern Health Unit.

The current 7-day per cent positivity rate is listed as 23.5 per cent.

The NWHU says currently there are:

Airdrie -Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie is taking a public stance on COVID restrictions.

He took to Facebook this morning to address COVID policies in a video message, saying after nearly two years, enough is enough.

"We are now approaching two years dealing with COVID and the time is well upon us to make a transition beyond restrictions; to move away from divisive policies and begin healing this province," stated Guthrie.

Students have been back in their classes for just over a week now, and so far, everything seems to be going according to plan.  

In an interview with KenoraOnline, Director of Education for the Keewatin Patricia District School Board (KPDSB), Sherri-Lynne Pharand, explained that the school board is proceeding with caution but in general, is very excited.