What’s happening today
FILE – This May 4, 2020, file photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shows the first patient enrolled in Pfizer’s COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine clinical trial at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. The German pharmaceutical company BioNTech and its U.S. partner Pfizer say they have submitted an application for conditional approval of their coronavirus vaccine with the European Medicines Agency. (Courtesy of University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP, File)
Britain approves vaccine: The United Kingdom has become the first western country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. People will begin getting shots of the vaccine, developed by drug giant Pfizer, next week. “Help is on its way,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC. READ MORE
Manitoba’s COVID-19 crisis: The chief public health officer will announce the province’s latest COVID-19 numbers this afternoon. A record 16 deaths were reported Wednesday. Danielle Da Silva reports. READ MORE
Finally set for football game: The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to host the Baltimore Ravens in only the second Wednesday NFL game in 72 years. The game has been postponed three times because of COVID-19 cases among players. Weekday afternoon kickoffs are normally reserved for U.S. Thanksgiving, but NBC had committed to airing the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center on prime-time TV. READ MORE
Curling in Calgary: A day after it was announced that several major curling events will be held in a bubble format in Calgary next year, the World Curling Federation will give an update on the remaining international events. Jason Bell reports on Tuesday’s announcement. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Mainly cloudy with a high of 1 C, a low of -2 C, wind chill as low as -6, and wind from the west at 15 km/h increasing to 20 km/h this morning.
In case you missed it
Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press
‘Very disappointed’ by decision: The son of one of eight residents who died in a 48-hour span amid a COVID-19 outbreak at Maples Personal Care Home says he’s “very disappointed” police have decided not to investigate further. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. READ MORE
Province, nurses reach pay deal: The provincial government and the Manitoba Nurses’ Union have signed an agreement to allow nurses to be redeployed — including to care homes, intensive care units and designated COVID-19 units — as needed. READ MORE
On this date
On Dec. 2, 2005: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that on the campaign trail, federal Conservative leader Stephen Harper vowed to cut the GST from seven per cent to six per cent if his party won the election. A new elementary school program that was increasingly being put into use in Ontario could soon come to Manitoba, which would eliminate recess and lunch breaks and instead have students learn in uninterrupted 100-minute periods, with two lunch and exercise breaks totalling 90 minutes. Winnipeg’s street parking meters would soon be replaced by ticket-dispensing pay stations.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
|
