COVID-19

Public health is reporting that one case of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant has been detected in Manitoba.

According to information released Tuesday afternoon, the individual recently travelled from one of the 10 federally advised countries and has experienced mild symptoms. Public health says it is conducting aggressive case and contact management. If additional public health risks are assessed and it is deemed necessary to protect the health of others, more information will be released.

Public Health is providing more details on Manitoba's first identified case of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant.

A statement from the Province of Manitoba says they have detected one case of the omicron variant. They say it comes from someone travelling from one of the 10 federally advised countries.

The federal government has introduced legislation to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory in all remaining federally regulated workplaces.

Mandatory vaccines are already in place for those in the public sector, as well as federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors, travellers on these modes of transportation, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

If COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the Northwestern Health Unit says further public health restrictions and lockdowns could be on their way, and potentially by the holidays if the situation worsens.

The Northwestern Health Unit has reported one new case of COVID-19, as the active case count remains at 18.

The new case is in the Kenora region.

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

More students in the Sioux Lookout area will be able to return to their classrooms soon.

The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Advisory says Pelican Falls First Nations High School is planning for the return of in-person learning as of Semester 2, which begins on January 5, 2022.

Pelican Falls First Nations High School staff add there will be two youth counsellors who have offices at the school and will be working full days on-site to assist with the transition.

It is without a doubt, tricky to navigate the fluid waters of pandemic travel these days. Even the travel experts are having to work overtime to keep up with the constantly changing rules and regulations for international and domestic travel. Case in point, the newly detected Omicron variant is already affecting international travel. 

As of Monday afternoon, 63,057 children between the ages of 5-11 have rolled up their sleeves for the first dose of the COVID vaccine.  That is a fairly small fraction of the 391,430 who are eligible for the vaccine in that age group.

To date, 89 per cent of the province’s population has received one shot of the COVID vaccine while 84.4 per cent are fully immunized.

As of Monday afternoon, 63,057 children between the ages of 5-11 have rolled up their sleeves for the first dose of the COVID vaccine.

That is a fairly small fraction of the 391,430 who are eligible for the vaccine in that age group.

To date, 89 per cent of the province’s population has received one shot of the COVID vaccine while 84.4 per cent are fully immunized.

The province is reporting 788 new COVID-19 cases since Friday.

Friday saw 349 new cases, Saturday 252, and Sunday 187.

Ontarians over the age of 50 are now able to schedule their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if its been over 6 months since their second dose.

“The message here is loud and clear. I’ll have my sleeve rolled up, because I’m convinced that it’s the right thing to do,” said Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford, in an interview with Q104 earlier today.

The province says they’ll further expand eligibility for booster doses based on age and risk, with an interval of six to eight months from the second dose, in the new year.