News briefs for November 27, 2020

The Keeyask work camp is now coronavirus-free, says Manitoba Hydro.

In a Friday news release, the Crown corporation said it tested all 617 site workers for a third time between Tuesday and Thursday, and no results came back positive for COVID-19.

An outbreak started a month ago, infecting 39 people who have since recovered.

The Keeyask outbreak attracted unanimous criticism from local First Nations regarding testing, containment protocols and transparency. Hydro said it has always followed the advice of public-health officials.

Five people were taken to hospital after a seven-car crash on Kenaston Boulevard Friday afternoon.

The crash happened around 1:20 p.m. at Kenaston Boulevard and Columbia Drive/Lindenwood Drive East and police are still on scene, advising the public that the area is expected to remain closed to traffic into the evening.

One person was taken to hospital in critical condition, two in unstable condition and two in stable condition.

Officers remain at the scene. It is anticipated that the intersection will remain closed into the evening. Traffic delays are expected, and drivers are asked to avoid the area.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has any relevant information to call investigators at 204-986-7085 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

Provincial health officials announced 344 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 more deaths in Manitoba Friday.

There are 8,865 active cases in Manitoba, with 322 people in hospital, 45 of them in intensive care.

The five-day test positivity rate is 14.5 in Manitoba, and 14.2 in Winnipeg.

The new deaths include:
• a man in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a man in his 50s from the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• a man in his 70s from the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• a man in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a man in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
• a woman in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at Parkview Place;  
• a woman in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre;
• a woman in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre;
• a woman in her 90s from the Prairie Mountain Health region and linked to the Fairview Home outbreak;
• a man in his 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region and linked to the outbreak at the Rest Haven Nursing Home;
• a man in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home outbreak;
• a man in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Golden Links Lodge;
• a man in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Golden Links Lodge; and
• a woman in her 100s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre.  

Of the new cases announced Friday, 178 are in the Winnipeg health region, 65 in Southern Health; 15 in Interlake–Eastern; 13 in Prairie Mountain; and 73 in Northern Health.
 

An IV clinic that provides antibiotic treatment in Transcona is set to close Monday — and with no public notice from the province.

Those who need this treatment through the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s community IV program will have to travel to Misericordia Hospital to receive it, a change too extreme to make without explaining why to the public, NDP leader Wab Kinew said Friday.

“This is the last thing families in north-east Winnipeg need right now,” Kinew said.

Police are investigating Winnipeg’s 41st homicide of the year after a man was found dead early Friday morning in the William Whyte neighbourhood.

Police found the man’s body when they responded to a report of an individual with serious injuries at a home in the 200 block of College Avenue just before 4:30 a.m.

The man’s identity hasn’t been released.

The homicide unit is investigating. Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

Frontline workers who provide direct care to vulnerable Manitobans at personal care homes and other critical settings are getting a bonus, thanks to a $35-million Caregiver Wage Support Program, the provincial government announced today.

The federal-provincial cost-shared program will be available to more than 20,000 Manitobans now working full-time or part-time on the front lines of the pandemic response. These include health-care aides, housekeeping staff, direct service workers and recreation workers. They provide direct care to vulnerable Manitobans at personal care homes or in disability services, child welfare services, homeless and family violence prevention shelters, or long-term care facilities.

Eligible employees will receive an hourly $5 top-up to their wages, based on the number of hours worked between Nov. 1 and Jan. 10. Two intake periods will close on Dec. 14 and Jan. 18. The program benefit will be paid directly to workers by the province in the week after each intake period closes. To qualify, workers must earn a regular wage of $25 per hour or less. 

The federal government is providing $20 million, while Manitoba is contributing $15 million foe the program. 

Families Minister Heather Stefanson is holding a news conference on a “caregiver wage support program” this morning.

The news conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the legislature.

The Free Press will have more on the announcement later this morning.

The Manitoba government is calling on people to stay home and shop online on Black Friday.

A news release issued this morning states that “personnel empowered to enforce public health orders will be out in full force on Black Friday.”

The Costco on McGillivray Avenue was given a $5,000 ticket Thursday for selling non-essential items, the release states. The provincial government said leaving the province to shop is “discouraged.”

The release also said Manitoba conservation officers issued $1,296 tickets in the Duck Mountain region to four Ontario hunters for failing to isolate upon entering Manitoba this week.