The Manitoba government has extended public health orders from Jan. 8 until Jan. 22, to continue to protect Manitobans and reduce case numbers, test positivity rates and hospitalizations, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, announced today. “While we are starting to bend our COVID curve in the right direction, now is not the time to let up,” said Pallister. “These public health orders are necessary to halt the spread of this deadly virus and protect our most vulnerable Manitobans. While we recognize these restrictions are difficult, they require the co-operation and commitment by all Manitobans to make them work. I continue to urge all Manitobans to follow the fundamentals, stay safe at home and limit your close contacts as much as possible.” The existing Critical (red) level restrictions have been extended by public health order with a minor modification to allow exemptions for professional hockey. Current orders permit Winnipeg-based teams to train in Manitoba, and allow athletes and affiliated officials an exemption to the self-isolation rules. The updated orders will extend current exemptions to all professional hockey teams and to allow games as well as training. Clarifications have been made to ensure all elements of game play (administrative officials, broadcasters, scouts, etc.) are covered in the order. The teams will be required to follow strict protocols to ensure the safety of league members as well as limit the risk to the public. These changes will be in effect for two weeks while officials monitor possible increases to case numbers as a result of the holidays. Beginning next week, the Manitoba government will be consulting with Manitobans for feedback on potential future changes to the orders, should case numbers allow. “Already, public health officials have seen more than 355 cases and nearly 1,900 contacts linked to holiday gatherings, and we expect to see higher numbers in the coming days,” said Roussin. “That is why we’re extending the public health orders with a minor adjustment. We need to continue to protect our families and friends by staying home as much as possible.” The updated orders are posted on the province’s Pandemic Response System website at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/orders/index.html#current.   Manitoba has announced the Safe at Home Manitoba program to provide support to Manitobans staying home during this critical time. Organizations, businesses and artists can visit www.safeathomemb.ca for more information. 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. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19. (Province of MB Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On January 6, 2021 at approx. 10:55 am police received a report of a break and enter into a detached garage on McDiarmid Dr. sometime between Dec 26 and today.  Stolen was a leaf blower and a charger with batteries. There are no suspects at this time. On January 6, 2021 at approx. 10:55 am police received a report of a break and enter into a detached garage on Clarke Dr. sometime overnight.  Stolen was a bicycle. There are no suspects at this time.

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.