New restrictions will take place across the province as they announced three deaths and a record 480 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon, including 25 new cases in the Northern Health Region.

Of the 480 new cases, two were identified Sunday, four were identified Monday, 44 were identified Tuesday, 193 were identified Wednesday and 237 were identified Thursday.  

All of Manitoba is now under level orange or restricted as per the Pandemic Response System, except for the Winnipeg Metro area which now under code red/critical. There will be no changes to the health orders currently in place for the Northern Health Region and Churchill. The public health orders will go into effect Nov. 2.

Provincial Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin states that they hope these new restrictions will help to halt the spread of the virus to ensure our health care system is there for those who need it.

Roussin goes on to say that he hopes this is a clear sign to Manitobans that everyone needs to stay home, keep their distance, and make a “necessary collective sacrifice to protect all Manitobans”.

There are currently 89 active cases in the Northern Health Region, including 11 in the Thompson/Mystery Lake Health District.

Manitoba Public Health has designated Cross Lake First Nation to code red or critical under the Provincial Pandemic Response System.

The order went into effect Oct. 29 at 12:01 a.m.

The restrictions for Cross Lake indicate that public gatherings are not permitted, all businesses are closed expect for those providing essential services, and all residents are required to stay home.

The province states people should only leave their homes to seek testing or medical care, or to send one person per household for essential supplies.

Additionally, people who work in essential services are able to leave their residence for work, and masks must be worn outside the homes.

For up-to-date-information on the current public health restrictions in place, visit the Government of Manitoba’s COVID-19 webpage.

On Oct. 26 at approximately 3:00 pm, RCMP responded to a single vehicle rollover, on Provincial Road 392 at Lakeshore Drive, in Snow Lake.

Initial investigation has determined that a cement truck, being driven by a 51-year-old male from Thompson, was travelling on PR 392, when he lost control on a curve and rolled into the ditch.

The 51-year-old male was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Snow Lake RCMP along with Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health, continue to investigate.

On Oct. 24 at approximately 12:20 am, RCMP executed a search warrant at an apartment on Princeton Drive, in Thompson.

Officers seized approximately 310 grams of cocaine, bear mace and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

A 38-year-old female from Thompson was arrested and will be facing a charge of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

A 23-year-old male from Thompson, was arrested and charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

This investigation led officers to conduct another search at a residence located on Nickel Road in Thompson.

Once inside, officers seized approximately 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, two handguns and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

A 19-year-old male from Thompson was arrested and charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition x2, Illegal Storage of Firearms, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Device and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

A Thompsonite was arrested for impaired driving over the weekend.

On Saturday just before noon, the local RCMP detachment received a report of an impaired driver on Brandon Crescent.

On their way to the driver, officers were then told the drunk driver hit a parked car on the same street.

Police arrived at the scene and arrested the 43-year-old, who provided breath samples nearly double the legal limit.

The lone person in the parked vehicle later went to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and the investigation continues.

A teen was taken into custody for a weapons-related offense.

On Friday evening, the Thompson RCMP was notified of a man in possession of a large gun on the Millennium Trail in the Westwood area.

Multiple police officers arrived on the scene and found a 17-year-old from Thompson in possession of two BB guns, one being a replica assault rifle and other a replica handgun.

The youth was found in breach of a court order and was subsequently taken into police custody.

The investigation is ongoing.

Manitoba Public Health reported this afternoon the 48^th death related to COVID-19. 

It’s a man in his 80s from Winnipeg Health Region linked to the outbreak at Parkview Place. 

They also reported 163 new cases with 128 in the Winnipeg Health Region, 19 in Southern Health, eight in Interlake Eastern, seven in Northern Health and one in Prairie Mountain Health Region. 

There are now seven cases reported in The Pas/OCN/Kelsey district and 15 in the Thompson/Mystery Lake district. 

Of the total 3935 cases reported 1855 are active, 2032 individuals have recovered and 51 are in hospital with eight in intensive care.

People with symptoms in parts of the province including Flin Flon, The Pas and Thompson can now call or go online to make an appointment to get tested.

Phone 1-855-268-4318 toll free or online www.manitoba.ca/covid19/updates/testing.html#appointment. 

Beginning Monday, Northern Manitoba will be under new COVID-19 restrictions as we continue to see a rise in positive cases in the region.

Under the new orders, the maximum sizes of gatherings will be reduced to five people, casinos and bingo halls must close, and the max occupancy at retail stores, restaurants, and personal service businesses will be at 50 per cent.

Additionally, everyone in the region will have to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces, practice physical distancing, hand washing, and cough etiquette; and follow public health guidelines on travel and self-isolation.

Schools in the north will also be under additional restrictions starting on Monday, as K-8 students may be offered temporary remote learning to create more space, extracurricular activities will only be allowed if all the distancing requirements are met, indoor choir and the use of wind instruments are not permitted.

The province announced ten new cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health Region, bringing to number of active cases to 45.

All the restriction going into effect next week can be found on the Government of Manitoba’s COVID-19 webpage.

RD Parker Collegiate has its first case of COVID-19 this school year.

This comes after a letter was sent to parents of on Oct. 20 from the Northern Health Region stating that a person has tested positive for the virus, and may have been infectious while at school from Oct15-16.

The letter from Medical Officer of Health Dr. Michael Isaac explains the high school is working with Public Health and following their recommendations, and the public health investigation has determined that the exposure was assessed to be low-risk overall.

Isaac states close contacts of the patient will be contacted as soon as possible and given instructions to self-isolate.

He goes on to say that RD Parker will remain open for students and staff to attend in person.

As of yesterday, masks are now required in all City of Thompson facilities for both staff and the public.

This includes city hall, the TRCC, and public transit.

The resolution was passed unanimously during Monday night’s city council meeting.

Some councillors discussed the possibility of introducing a by-law for masks to be mandatory city-wide in the near future, while others proposed lobbying to government to make the call for municipalities across Manitoba.

In the meantime, the city is encouraging residents to wear masks in all public spaces with high traffic, or where distancing is difficult to maintain.

As flu season kicks off this year, Indigenous organizations and the Province of Manitoba are urging First Nations citizens to get their flu shot.

Dr. Barry Lavallee, the CEO of Keewantinohk Inniniw Minoayawin [mih-noh-ay-ah-win] says this is especially important for families in the north where access to health care is limited.

This is among other factors such as housing shortages and people living with chronic health conditions, which create further risk for hospitalization and getting serious health complications from the flu.

Manitoba’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin states that Indigenous Manitobans may be more at risk of serious illness from the flu, and encourages everyone to add an extra layer of protection this flu season by getting vaccinated.

The annual flu shot is free of charge and available from health care providers and pharmacies across the province.

Find a list of scheduled vaccine clinics in your area at gov.mb.ca.

This past Saturday marked the one year anniversary since Bobbie Lynn Moose was found dead in Thompson.

The 29-year-old’s body was found near Nelson road on October 17^th, 2019.

Corporal Morgan Page with the Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Unit says Moose was dropped off at the Thompson Walmart on October 1^st of last year by one of her sisters and was not heard from again.

Page adds investigators believe that Moose knew the person who took her life.

To date, RCMP has conducted more than three hundred interviews, spoken with 15 hundred people, and distributed pamphlets in Cree requesting information.

Page explains police are looking for information as to what was happening with Moose from October 1^st to the 17^th, 2019, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with information about Bobbie’s time in Thompson prior to her death or has any information related to this investigation is asked to call Thompson RCMP at 677-6909 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Six new cases of COVID-19 were reported over the weekend.

As of Oct. 18, there 28 active cases of COVID-19 in the north, with eight of them in the Thompson/Mystery Lake Health District.

Addtionally, Public Health officials advise that there may be possible public exposure to COVID-19 at salon Italia on Oct. 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more inforamtion on COVID-19, visit gov.mb.ca.

With the increase in COVID-19 cases in northern Manitoba, specifically in the Thompson-Mystery Lake Health District, the Northern Health Region’s Medical Officer of Health Doctor Michael Isaac spoke to the media to provide an update on the current situation.

Isaac says that due to the high number of cases in the south, particularly in Winnipeg, many of the cases in the north are travel related.

Speaking on the outbreak on the third floor of the Thompson YWCA, Isaac says that the health region and Public Health were able to successfully isolate all contacts identified from the cases linked to the outbreak.

Isaac says that as of Oct. 16 , approximately 40 identified contacts are self-isolating either at home or at the health region’s isolation units, but adds that those numbers are constantly influx.

He adds that since the outbreak occurred in the YWCA’s shelter program to help homeless people during the pandemic, the Northern health Region will do outreach testing both at the Thompson Homeless Shelter and in the community as a whole.

Isaac goes on to say that now is the time for northerners to get back into the fundamentals to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as frequent and thorough hand washing and hand sanitising, physically distance as much as you can, self-monitor for symptoms, and staying home if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

On October 15, 2020, at approximately 9:20 pm, RCMP responded to a robbery at a business on Thompson Drive, in Thompson. An intoxicated male and female, entered the business and were yelling and being aggressive towards the staff and customers. The male then grabbed a broom and stole an undetermined amount of cash from the register and both suspects left on foot.

At 9:30 pm, officers patrolling in the area located and arrested the suspects.

Video surveillance was obtained which showed the suspects leaving the business after the robbery, and then proceeding to assault one another.

A 26-year-old male, and a 28-year-old female, both from Thompson, are facing charges of Robbery and Assault.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

The YWCA says their contingency plan is in effect following a COVID-19 outbreak being declared in the facility.

The association says the public health investigation had determined the risk to short-term stay residents is low. However, Public Health is recommending anyone who as stayed at the building between October 4^th to the 14^th to self-monitor for symptoms.

A press release from the organization states the YWCA’s Shelter in Place Program, or SHIPP, operates from the third floor of the building, and is self-contained as participants access the building through a separate entrance.

Interactions with staff and clients outside the program are limited as well, and visitor access has been restricted as a result.

The YWCA says the SHIPP initiative was developed earlier this year to address concerns over COVID-19 and Thompson’s homeless residents.

The Thompson YWCA has been placed in the Critical category of the Province of Manitoba's pandemic response system earlier this week. Public Health staff from the Northern Health Region are conducting contact tracing, and are supervising staff and clients currently in isolation.

Additonally, MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee is asking anyone who stayed at the YWCA between Oct. 4-14 to notify staff at their nursing station.

Manitoba 211 has launched their phone service beginning yesterday, making it even easier for people to get the help and support they need.

United Way Winnipeg’s President and CEO Connie Walker says Manitoba 211’s online service has been in place since 2017, and that the expansion to the phone service was made possible thanks to funding from the federal government.

Walker says people can call with any kind of health or social service needs such as mental health and addictions, housing, homelessness, and employment.

For more information on the new 211 phone line service, you can call 2-1-1, visit mb.211.ca, or catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has officially launched the province's influenza immunization program. 

Pallister says it’s even more important to get a flu shot as we deal with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. 

He explains the flu vaccine protects us from serious illness and it saves lives, adding the vaccine is available to all Manitobans at no charge.

Pallister states he is pleased to say that the eligibility criteria for the high dose seasonal influenza vaccine has been expanded to include not only senior residents of long term care facilities, but many other Manitobans over 65 years of age.

That includes all seniors living north of the 53^rd parallel. 

Close to 150 thousand doses have already been shipped to providers with the full allotment to be sent out over the next several weeks. 

You can find times and locations for influenza clinics by going to the Northern Health Region website.

At Tuesday night’s board meeting, the September attendance rates for students in the School District of Mystery Lake were highlighted as schools reopened last month in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Westwood School had the highest attendance rate at just over 96 per cent, with Wapanohk Community School having the lowest rate at nearly 68 per cent.

Co-Superintendent Lorie Henderson explained to the board that enrollment is at around 3, 083 as of September 30^th, which is down around 80 students from the same time last year.

Henderson noted that as of Tuesday, eleven students are confirmed to be home schooled this year.

46 students had not attended school at all since the year began as parents may have been concerned with sending their kids back to school.

Henderson says the school district has begun a transition back-to-school program for those students to help them work their way back to in-class learning.

On Monday, October 12th at approximately 5:35 pm, Leaf Rapids RCMP received a report of a missing 19-year-old female, from the community.

Gwyneth Gegenfurtner, was last seen on October 11, 2020, in the area of Mikinak Bay, in Leaf Rapids.

She is 5’6”, approximately 140 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police and family are concerned for her well-being.

If you have any information on her whereabouts please call Leaf Rapids RCMP at 204-473-2469.

Both Thompson City Council and the School Board for the Mystery Lake School Division have filled vacant seats.

In yesterday’s by-election,   Braden McMurdo successfully claimed the spot on city council left vacant by the passing of longtime councilor Judy Kolada.

McMurdo claimed 355 votes, followed by Ron Matechuk with 293, Kathleen Bluesky with 280, Jason Bayer with 117 and David Koblisky with 48.

Li Cripps was successful in her bid to join the Board for the School District.

Cripps beat out her sole opponent, Bryan Young with results of 630 votes to 454.

A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at the UCN campus here in Thompson.

Public health officials advised UCN of the confirmed case on Monday, and the individual was at the campus on October 5^th when they were believed to have been infectious.

UCN says it’s working closely with public health officials, and contact tracing began as soon as Public Health was informed of the positive test.

Anyone identified as a close contact will be contacted and will be given instructions for self-isolation, and testing may also be recommended.

Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low, and the infection was not believed to be acquired at school.

UCN President and Vice-chancellor Doug Lauvstad says the institution is continuing to ensure staff and students are up-to-date with current and factual information, and that the health and safety of the community is at the forefront.

Five additional cases of COVID-19 were detected in the Thompson/Mystery Lake District on Thanksgiving Monday.

The numbers were announced in the Province of Manitoba’s COVID-10 Bulletin for Oct. 12.

The City of Thompson is strongly advising residents to avoid large crowds, practice diligent social distancing and personal hygiene, and to wear a mask in public area.

The Thompson Recycling Centre has suspended recycling collection Oct. 9 after explosive material was discovered in residential recycling.

The City of Thompson says the blasting cap was triggered by friction, and is powerful enough to take off someone's hand.

The RCMP, Thompson Fire and Emergency Services, and Vale are on-site to help identify any potential remaining explosive.

The city adds that since this is a dangerous act, the RCMP may launch a criminal investigation.

The Thompson RCMP is investigating following a traffic stop where they seized a large amount of cash.

On Oct. 7 at approximately 2:50 a.m, officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 6 near Pisew Falls.

During the stop, police found the money, which is believed to have been obtained through crime, along with a can of bear spray.

Two Thompsonites, a 32-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman are facing a number of charges, namely Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose.

UPDATE: Matthew Flett has been found safe and sound with the assistance of StreetReach.

The Thompson RCMP are seeking the public's assistance in locating 17 year-old Matthew Clifford Flett.

Flett was last seen near Public Road in Thompson on Sunday, October 4 at approximately 4:35 AM. 

Flett is described as being approximately 5'5 and 132 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.  He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, and a blue/black hat. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Matthew Clifford Flett is asked to contact Thompson RCMP at (204) 677-6911.

After the province announced one positive case of COVID-19 in the Thompson-Mystery Lake District, the city is reminding residents to continue following measures to keep the coronavirus at bay.

In a press release, the city says that Public Health nurses and staff are conducting extensive contact tracing and monitoring, and that Thompson is working closely with the Northern Health Region and community partners to contain this event.

Mayor Colleen Smook says no one should be surprised or caught off-guard by this announcement as we knew this day would come.

Smook says it’s important that we all follow precautions and public health orders properly, such as staying home when you’re feeling sick, washing your hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and covering your cough or sneeze.

The City of Thompson will provide updates as the situation progresses in collaboration with provincial authorities.

Health Canada has released a new COVID Alert app to help warn residents across the country if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

You can also use it to quickly report a COVID-19 diagnosis in Manitoba and select participating provinces.

The app strives to collect as little personal information as possible, and does not rely on your phone's GPS. You can learn more about how the app works at the link below before downloading it to your device.

COVID Alert will not replace official contact tracing efforts, but is one more tool that Thompsonites can use to limit the spread of COVID-19 in northern Manitoba.

Check out the app here.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-alert.html

On the afternoon of September 28th, Island Lake RCMP responded to a report that a male had just stabbed a dog outside a residence, on Garden Hill First Nation.

It was reported that the man who lived nearby had walked up and stabbed the dog with a knife, and then assaulted a female who went outside to confront him.

The male then left the area.  The dog died from its injuries.

The female did not require medical attention.

Officers attended the area and located the suspect. 

The 30-year-old man from Garden Hill First Nation, was arrested and is facing charges of Cruelty to Animals, Assault and Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 16, 2020.

Island Lake RCMP continue to investigate.

There are concerns that reports of confirmed COVID-19 tests here in the north don’t always jibe with the news that comes from the province.

CEO of the Northern Health Region, Helga Bryant explains the reporting process here to provide clarification.

“The minute that positive result lands in the message box of Public Health, either one of our MOH’s or our public health nurses, they immediately connect with the case and begin to do the contact tracing.     So, that can sometimes go on even for two to three days before there’s even a formal reporting, because the important thing is to ensure that the case and the contacts are interviewed and that they are supported.”

Bryant said that positive rapid response or point-of-care testing results are considered presumptive positives only until they are confirmed by Cadham Laboratory in Winnipeg.

That process can take a matter of a few days, depending on how quickly the tests can be transported to the Lab.

Bryant says the best source of information and updates for COVID-19 in the province is the government website, manitoba.ca.  

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The by-election to choose one city councillor and one school board rep takes place on October 13th.

If you haven’t made up your mind yet on who is going to get your vote, listen to Thompson Today here on 102.9 CHTM and get to know the candidates.

Today at 12:40 and 5:10 you’ll hear from Lee Cripps, one of the candidates for School Board.      Tomorrow’s guest is Bryan Young, who is also running for the School Board position.
        
Next week we’ll feature the five city council candidates in the following order:   Jason Bayer, Kathleen Blue Sky, Dave Kobliski, Ron Matechuk and Braden McMurdo.