COVID sparks mad dash to move premier’s event

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This article was published 06/04/2022 (1299 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As much as her government wants to put the pandemic in the past, Premier Heather Stefanson can’t avoid COVID-19.

On Wednesday, her handlers had to scramble at the last minute to move a news conference scheduled for a seniors residence, because of a COVID-19 outbreak there.

“This is an unfortunate situation that took place today,” Stefanson told reporters at the event scheduled for River Park Gardens that was switched to the legislature.

“We had to move the location for today,” she said at the news conference to announce funding for infection prevention and control at personal care homes.

Planning a press conference at a seniors residence fits the premier’s push for a return to “normalcy,” said Felix Mathieu, a political studies professor at the University of Winnipeg.

“It suggests that these are safe environments the premier herself is not worried about visiting,” he said Wednesday.

But, given the number of Manitobans who are reportedly getting sick with COVID-19 these past days and weeks, “this communication stunt” was an “unnecessary risk” for her to take, Mathieu said.

“Holding such a press conference requires bringing in a fair number of people — politicians, advisers, journalists, technicians,” he said. “Planning it at a seniors residence was careless towards this group of the population that is highly at risk of developing serious health problems,” the political analyst said.

“It seems here that the ideological goal of the government had won the day over a pragmatic vision that would indeed listen to the recommendations made by public health authorities — which surely did not come with the idea of holding a press conference at a seniors residence,” said Mathieu.

The premier did not provide details about the outbreak at River Park Gardens, which she said will be reported in what has now become a weekly COVID-19 update from the province. Her government has been the target of criticism for no longer providing detailed COVID-19 data daily, including outbreaks at personal care homes.

On Wednesday, she said the move to weekly reporting is part of “learning to live with COVID.” Other provinces have moved to weekly and monthly COVID-19 updates, the premier said. Manitoba’s weekly reporting is based on a recommendation, and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin would be made available later this week to explain it.

As for the outbreak that affected her news conference, Stefanson said the residents, families and staff at River Park Gardens were informed, and it will be included in Thursday’s weekly report. It will not, however, say how many cases were reported.

“The information is getting out to those who need it when they need it,” Stefanson said.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew said Manitobans need more information.

“The government keeps trying to pretend as though COVID is over and yet COVID — the reality of the pandemic — keeps interjecting and reminding us that it is very much here,” he told reporters Wednesday.

“I can think of no clearer example for the PCs – that they had to move their press conference on account of an outbreak in a (seniors home) — as proof that the pandemic is not over, despite what they want to tell Manitobans,” the leader of the official Opposition said.

“The government continues to get these obvious reminders that are proof of why reporting of public data continues to be very important here in Manitoba.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca