News briefs for November 20, 2020

Nine Indigenous people in Manitoba have died from COVID-19 in the past week, raising the number of deaths in that population to 27 people.

In the past week, there were 527 new cases, raising the number of active cases throughout Manitoba to 1,401, including 795 people who live on reserves. 

The five-day test positivity rate for First Nations residents, both on and off reserve is 19 per cent. 

More than half of Manitoba’s 63 First Nations have been forced to deal with COVID-19 cases.

The entire Hanover School Division will become the first district in Manitoba to enter the most severe level on the province’s pandemic response system, starting next week. 

Interim superintendent Shelley Amos wrote in a letter to parents Friday that the province’s top doctor has decided that, as of Nov. 24, area schools will close. 

The move means all students will move to teacher-led remote learning. Children in K-6 and students with disabilities whose parents are critical service workers will be able to attend school, if their school can accomodate them. 

Schools will remain open Monday. 

Altona-based printer Friesens Corp. was fined $32,000 for an incident in which an employee was seriously injured three years ago.

The Manitoba government issued a release Friday to announce Friesens had been fined $32,500 in relation to an incident on Dec. 5, 2017.

The worker was making adjustments to a Hobbs corner cutting machine, which is used to cut laminated boards, when the worker’s hand came into contact with the blade.

A charge under the Workplace Health and Safety Act was authorized after an investigation.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union has filed a grievance because it says the government is not giving enforcement officers adequate personal protective equipment.

In the effort to curb COVID-19 cases, the government has tasked conservation officers, health inspectors, fire inspectors, workplace health and safety officers, among others, with enforcing public health orders such as the use of face masks in public places.

MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky says eight months into the pandemic, there should be no need for a grievance to demand proper PPE.

“As we saw last weekend at that rally in Steinbach, these workers are in close contact with others who are not wearing masks or socially distancing,” she said in a statement.

“This can put those workers at risk of contracting the virus.  If the government wants them to enforce these orders, they must provide them with the proper PPE to keep them safe.”

Manitoba’s chief public health officer admits a public health order may be unintentionally hurting low-income earners.

The order prohibits the sale of gift cards and pre-paid credit cards, which are used by people who don’t have a credit card to make online purchases.

“We had to put these targeted, very restrictive, black-and-white restrictions in,” said Dr. Brent Roussin.

He said the issue deserves a second look.

“This is something we’re going to look at in the near future… because having access to these could make online purchases much easier for people who don’t have a credit card,” he said Friday.

“These (orders) are so restrictive I am sure this won’t be the last thing (to be adjusted),” he said.

A man missing since Thursday has been located safe.

Winnipeg police said on Friday Russell Weenusk, 51, was found within four hours of the service asking for the public’s help in finding him.

Weenusk had been last seen on Thursday at about 1:20 a.m.

There are 438 new cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths in Manitoba, the province announced Friday.

There are 7,861 active cases, with 281 people in hospital, 43 of them in intensive care.

The five-day test positivity rate is 13.7 per cent in both Manitoba and Winnipeg.

The new deaths include a man in his 20s from Winnipeg — the youngest person to succumb to the virus in Manitoba during the pandemic. Other cases include:

• a Northern woman in her 50s; 
• a woman in her 60s linked to the Keekinan Centre outbreak in Winnipeg;
• a woman in her 60s from the Interlake-Eastern region;
• a man in his 60s from the Southern region;
• a Winnipeg woman in her 80s;
• two men — one in his 80s and one over 100 — both linked to the St. Norbert Personal Care Home outbreak in Winnipeg;
• a man in his 80s linked to the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home outbreak in the Prairie Mountain region;

Of the new cases announced Friday, 247 are in the Winnipeg health region, 114 in Southern Health; 22 in Interlake–Eastern; 27 in Prairie Mountain; and 28 in Northern Health.

This is a corrected brief: An earlier version said eight deaths were announced.  A provincial press release numbered the new deaths at eight, but listed nine people.

The province’s police watchdog is not recommending charges be laid against an RCMP officer who injured two suspects by firing a "less lethal" firearm at them.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba said on Friday that it had concluded its investigation into the March incident and concluded there weren’t reasonable grounds to charge the officer.

The IIU said because the two suspects are still before the courts the final report won’t be released until the matter is resolved.

Steinbach RCMP officers responded to a child abduction complaint at Roseau River residence on March 23 at about 10:45 a.m.

While trying to recover the children, the officers were assaulted and an officer used what the IIU called a "less lethal" firearm to subdue the two suspects, causing minor injuries. 

Lottery tickets cannot be sold in-person under a new public health order that took effect Friday. 

According to the province, retail businesses must not sell lottery tickets, such as Lotto Max, Lotto 649, instant-win and scratch tickets, in-person as they aren’t considered essential items, as set out in Schedule B of the public health order. 

However, some lottery items are often available for online purchase. Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries offers online sales of lottery items at playnow.com.

According to Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo, cards for December games will not be in retail stores during critical-red level pandemic restrictions in Manitoba. Cards can instead be ordered online, or by phone or mail. 

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers aim to kick off their 2021 regular season with a rematch of the 2019 Grey Cup game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday, June 10.

Winnipeg’s 2021 schedule also includes three Thursday and two Friday games. In addition, the club will close out the season with four Saturday games.

After a Week 2 trip to Montreal to play the Alouettes, Winnipeg faces Edmonton for a home-and-home series June 25 at IG Field and July 3 at Brick Field. For Week 5, Winnipeg hosts Alouettes July 8 before enjoying a Week 6 bye.

In Week 7, the Bombers travel to Calgary before hosting the B.C. Lions July 30.

Winnipeg opens August with a Week 9 game in Ottawa against the Redblacks followed by a Week 10 bye. A road game in Hamilton Week 11 is next before hosting B.C. on Aug. 26.

The Bombers then travel to Regina Week 12 for the annual Labour Day Classic Sept. 5 against Saskatchewan.

The Roughriders are the visitors for the Banjo Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 11.

RCMP are continuing to ask for the public’s help in finding a woman missing from the Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve for eight months.

Melinda Lynxleg, 41, has been missing since March 31.

Roblin RCMP said Lynxleg has not used her bank account, hasn’t been in touch with family or friends, and hasn’t used social media while she has been missing.

RCMP said they have interviewed more than 50 people and continue to investigate any tips they receive.

Lynxleg is described as 5-5 in height, and weighing 190 lbs. — though RCMP believe she may have lost weight — and has brown hair and eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roblin RCMP at 204-937-2164 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The province is launching a new digital campaign that encourages safe local shopping, Finance Minister Scott Fielding and Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler announced at a joint press conference Friday.

This campaign is a recommendation of the premier’s Economic Opportunities Advisory Board. The advisory board was established in May to guide Manitoba’s plans for reopening the economy and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The #ShopLocalMB campaign will be featured on the Manitoba government’s social media channels.

Winnipeg police have found a missing man.

Russell Weenusk, 51, was missing since Nov. 19. He was last seen in the Ross Avenue and Sherbrook Street area. He was found shortly after police sent out a press release asking for information. 

More than half of Golden Links Lodge’s 81 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority announced late Thursday night.

A two-person team from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was scheduled to be at the not-for-profit personal care home, which is struggling with staffing problems, throughout the night. Golden Links Lodge asked the families of residents to send one person to sit bedside with their loved one and monitor them.

An exemption has been granted to bring in staff members from other personal care homes, the WRHA said.

The care home is located at 2280 St. Mary’s Rd., north of the Perimeter Highway.

Finance Minister Scott Fielding and Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler are holding a news conference on “supports for business” at the Manitoba legislature later this morning.

Costa Cholakis, the co-owner of Broadway Florists, will appear at the announcement virtually.

The news conference comes on the same day new pandemic restrictions prohibiting the sale of non-essential items took effect.