To protect vulnerable Manitobans who are at greatest risk from COVID-19, Manitoba will launch a 28-day campaign to immunize all eligible personal care home (PCH) residents in 135 sites across the province with the first dose of the vaccine, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.     “This is the next crucial phase in our plan to protect Manitobans from COVID-19,” said Pallister. “We have built a plan to immunize some of our most vulnerable people as quickly as possible, now that we can bring the vaccine to them safely. By early March, every eligible resident will have received both doses and the fullest protection we can provide against this virus.”   The PCH immunization campaign will begin on Monday, Jan. 11. Over the week, focused immunization teams (FITs) will visit seven locations in every regional health authority across the province. They will immunize an estimated 1,157 people at: • Boyne Lodge, Carman, Southern Health–Santé Sud;  • Charleswood Care Centre, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority; • Hillcrest Place, Brandon, Prairie Mountain Health;  • Oakview Place, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority; • St. Paul’s Residence, The Pas, Northern Health Region; • Tudor House, Selkirk, Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority; and • Tuxedo Villa, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.  As announced in December, the prioritization of PCHs uses an evidence-based approach to measure the vulnerability of the site, based on the number of residents as well as the percentage of shared rooms. Within each regional health authority, the local FIT will prioritize facilities for immunization based on these criteria. The FITs will follow all protocols for personal protective equipment while on-site. The province has developed a week-by-week plan to immunize an estimated 9,834 people living in PCHs across the province. They will receive their first dose of vaccine within 28 days of the campaign launch, as long as the vaccine continues to be delivered to Manitoba by the federal government as expected. The schedule will then be immediately repeated to provide the second dose to all PCH residents. Immunizations are expected to use the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.   Next week, the immunization schedule for all remaining PCHs will be released. It will reflect any lessons learned from the first week of immunizations and significantly expand the number of immunizations scheduled on a weekly basis.  All eligible residents and personal care homes will be included in the campaign if they consent to be immunized. The vaccine will be offered at all sites, regardless of whether the PCH has had an outbreak, is having an outbreak or has never had an outbreak of COVID-19. Individuals in personal care homes will be offered the vaccine even if they have previously tested positive for COVID-19, as long as they do not have any other medical conditions that would exclude them from immunization.   The province has been working with the long-term care sector to prepare for the campaign since the middle of December. When required, this includes seeking consent from alternate decision makers for immunization. Individuals working at these facilities will continue to be immunized at the RBC Convention Centre super site with the Pfizer vaccine, to preserve the more limited supply of Moderna.    For more information about the immunization campaign in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/vaccine. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 630 am on Friday morning, officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of 5th St where a man had discharged bear spray into the residence. The suspect was located by a responding officer running down a back lane nearby. Several people in the residence were affected by the spray. The suspect also punched out a large window in the residence, cutting his arm in the process. The suspect, a 19 year old Brandon resident, was treated for his cuts and later released. He will appear in court in March on charges of Possession of a Prohibited Weaon, Administer a Noxious Substance, Possession of a Weapon, Assault with a Weapon, Mischief Under $5000 and Failure to Comply with a Probation Order.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Shortly after 1:00 am on Friday morning, staff at a convenience store in the 1600 block of Princess Ave reported a vehicle struck the store and drove away. Officers responded and found the vehicle had lost control on Rosser Ave, struck a building and then spun around into the convenience store. The front license plate of the truck was left at the scene and officer located the vehicle at a residence on Brandon’s north hill. A man admitted to being the driver and was arrested for impaired driving. He provide breath samples over twice the legal limit. The accused, a 38 year old Brandon resident, will appear in court in January on charges of Impaired Driving, Drive over 80 mg% and Fail to Remain at the scene of an Accident.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Wednesday evening, police conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Princess Avenue after being observed going through a red light. The driver, a 33-year-old from Brandon showed signs of impairment and failed the roadside screening device test. He was returned to BPS where he refused to provide a sample of his breath. The driver was charged with impaired driving and refusing to provide a sample. The driver was also found to have an endorsed warrant for his arrest for careless use of a firearm from Portage la Prairie. He was released for court in January.

The Manitoba government is providing an update on ongoing enforcement efforts to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19.   A total of 193 warnings and 58 tickets were issued for the week of Dec. 21 to 27 including three $5,000 tickets to businesses for various offences and 51 $1,296 tickets to individuals for various offences.  Officials advise that 44 of the 51 $1,296 tickets issued last week were in relation to gatherings in private residences. As New Year’s Eve approaches, Manitobans are reminded that public health orders remain in effect throughout the holidays and must be followed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about online events and activities designed to make staying home a little easier, visit Safe at Home Manitoba at www.safeathomemb.ca/.  Enforcement officials also issued four $298 tickets for failure to wear a mask in indoor public places. Manitobans are reminded that masks must cover a person’s mouth, nose and chin without gapping. Face shields are not an acceptable alternative.  Since enforcement efforts began in April, a total of 1,683 warnings and 617 tickets have been issued, resulting in more than $919,000 in fines to businesses and individuals.   Almost 3,300 personnel across various agencies are empowered to enforce public health orders to protect Manitobans. This includes RCMP, law enforcement agencies, provincial employees and municipal partners, such as the City of Winnipeg.    Updated enforcement statistics are now posted online weekly. For more information go to Cross-Departmental Reports at www.gov.mb.ca/openmb/infomb/departments.html.   In addition to a $298 fine for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, fine amounts for violating public health orders have been set at $1,296 for tickets issued to individuals, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, and $5,000 for tickets issued to corporations.   Manitobans can report compliance and enforcement issues by visiting www.manitoba.ca/COVID19 and completing the reporting form, or by calling 204-945-3744 or 1-866-626-4862 (toll-free) and pressing option three on the call menu.  The Manitoba government is taking strong action to protect Manitobans and ensure timely access to care. Current orders under the Public Health Act are available at:https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/2020_2021/orders-soe-11222020.pdf.     Manitobans are reminded to adhere to all current public health orders and stay home. For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.  (Media Bulletin - Manitoba)