Discussions

Mayor Rick Chrest and Director of Emergency and Risk Management Brian Kayes speak to response to COVID-19 from a Brandon perspective. I gather plan is for regular such updates.  
 

For those interested in COVID-19 testing and case numbers in adjacent areas:  

 
Saskatchewan publishes their numbers at:  
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/cases-and-risk-of-covid-19-in-saskatchewan  
 
CBC wrote this story on why the divide in Saskatchewan-Manitoba numbers doesnt matter. Story was done on Tuesday, Saskatchewan reported 14 new cases on Wednesday and Manitoba the 14 new probable cases:  
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-saskatchewan-covid-disparity-1.5508342  
 
North Dakota publishes their case counts at the link below (reminder that the Canada-US border is closed to non-essential travel):  
https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/north-dakota-coronavirus-cases

City of Brandon has activated its pandemic preparedness plan at the Municipal Water Treatment Facility, stressing that the water supply is safe and that there is no cause for alarm. Please read below for more details on efforts to ensure the plant is able to continue to produce safe water:  
https://www.brandon.ca/public-notices-details?var=5894

A more and more common site at grocers in the city this week to protect cashiers and customers:  
 

Our cashiers now have plexiglass shields.  We ask that customers stand behind the shields when paying. Another way @bdnsobeyswest is looking out for our customers and staff. #flattenthecurve #hero #cashiershield #socialdistancing pic.twitter.com/hWhoKY81OM

— Sobeys Brandon West (@bdnsobeyswest) March 26, 2020

Thanks to our whole staff for their hard work and dedication to our customers! You've taken this all on with a smile, as evidenced by our maintenance team in this pic! pic.twitter.com/uDaTd7cU4W

— Heritage Co-op (@HeritageCoopLtd) March 26, 2020

Some more hour updates (including pet stores as requested)...

Best West Pets: Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm. Sun 10:30am-5:30pm

Forbidden Flavours allows walk ups at their drive through (asking that pedestrians, cars be mindful of each other):  https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KZxZ7AomN/

 
Pet Lovers Wearhouse  
Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm  
 
PetSmart  
Mon-sat 9-7, sun 10-6. Salon closed until further. Salon closed until further notice. 

PetValu  
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm  

Quiznos  
10am-10pm 7 days a week, takeout/pickup  
 
Smittys  
Temporarily closed mall location. Highway location open 7am-9pm for delivery, takeout as well as dine-in with socially distant spacing between seating  
 
Tim Hortons  
Tims’ 18th S and Trans Canada locations are open 24 hrs to drivethru, takeout. Their Vic Ave location is closing overnight from 11pm-5am, otherwise open to drivethru and takeout. Mall location is temporarily closed. Though hospital visiting has been suspended in the province, the hospital Tims is being kept open to support hospital staff

In today's provincial update, the Province's first death was announced.  
Three new probable cases were announced in Manitoba at of 9:30am. Location beyond that was not yet shared. 
 
Also of note, effective 12:01 AM on Monday public gatherings will be limited to no more than 10. From the link below,  
 
"Public gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. This does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters. Retail businesses including grocery or food stores, shopping centres, pharmacies or gas stations must ensure separation of one to two metres between patrons assembling in the business. Public transportation facilities must also ensure that people assembling at the facility are reasonably able to maintain a separation of one to two metres."  
 
Full details:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47282

The City of Brandon has announced that it will be live streaming regular updates from council chambers starting today (Friday) at 4pm. Future updates are as of now planned to be streamed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Once streams are done they will work to get archived versions up asap.  
 
The link for City streams and archived postings will be:  
https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofBrandonMB

Via the City, Eastview landfill will continue operating on Winter hours until further notice. Those hours are 8am-4:45pm Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays:  
https://www.brandon.ca/public-notices-details?var=5895  
 
There was a question on the upcoming ten person limit on gatherings and how it applies to retailers such as grocery or department stores. Here's Brandon Sun’s story which states that retail businesses are among exclusions in the 10 person gathering limit.... with the release above noting that such businesses are expected to have a 1-2m distance between patrons:  
https://www.brandonsun.com/coronavirus/newsalert-more-restrictions-in-manitoba-as-first-death-related-to-covid-19-569162142.html

As mentioned above, the City plans to stream updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The first finished a little while ago with the archive being now published: (see embed below:

Province has updated the main COVID-19 page (link below) including the breakdown by region and it's now showing 3 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region.... 1 confirmed and 2 probable. Brandon of course being the largest community by far in Prairie Mountain, but the exact city/town of cases is not being disclosed: 
https://gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html  

A reminder with us seeing more instances of the virus in the region of the importance of following the 3 P’s to protect yourself, loved ones and this community. The link below explains very well while also speaking to some common myths:
https://www.covid19manitoba.ca

Side note, reminder that actual discussion should be in the  general COVID-19 discussion or in a separate new thread if the topic justifies it. This particular thread is reserved for confirmed fact postings. Except for questions where a new development posted here should have further clarification, please make use of the other thread to discuss developments including thoughts and opinions on facts/announcements posted in this particular thread. thanks! 

If you're experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should be calling Health Links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free)

25 new probable cases reported in Manitoba this morning as per link below. Location/age/gender not yet included, though goes without saying that as case numbers get higher I wouldn't be expecting to see an itemized listing for each case. Now at 64 probable+confirmed cases, perhaps as locations are confirmed we will see an updated chart breaking down by health authority on the provincial page.

https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47297

Very important note for anyone that was or knows anyone that was on WestJet flight WS3256 from Calgary to Brandon on March 15 (the late flight). This flight has been added to the list of flights with COVID-19 effected cases as per the Province. Please see the link for specific rows at close contact and risk of exposure and instructions (note the two separate entrie with separate sets of rows).  
 
Flights link:  
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/flights.html

Brandon Sun story on the affected flight:  
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/COVID-19-infected-passengers-took-Calgary-to-Brandon-flight--569196871.html

For discussion on facts relating to COVID-19 such as this one, please make use of the separate General COVID-19 discussion. 

From this morning's provincial update, 8 new probable cases in the province bringing provincial probable+confirmed cases to 72:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47317  
 
From the stats at the link below that were updated at 9:30am this morning, we now have 5 confirmed cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region (up from 3 that were shown yesterday):  
https://gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html

Important update regarding an additional flight from Calgary to Brandon that the province is saying had a confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 case.  
 
The provincial flights page has now been updated with an entry for a March 14th Calgary to Brandon flight, WS3256. This was the late flight, just like the March 15th flight noted yesterday. In this case they specifically mention seat 12A for March 14th. If you were on this flight or know someone that was please see flight link at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/flights.html for more details.  
 
Here is the Flightaware for this flight:  
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/WEN3256/history/20200315/0250Z/CYYC/CYBR?fbclid=IwAR2iW2Ii5ntukkbh_PGp2noE0UB7HILMNlSsgPrYEKAA7Tf5wZ-nBWMpaI0  
 
At the same time they have removed the second row entry for the March 15th WS3256 flight and are now showing rows 2-8 as as the effected rows for that March 15 flight.  
 
So, according to the province two Calgary to Brandon flights on consecutive nights with confirmed COVID-19 cases:  
 
March 14: WS3256, seat 12A  
March 15: WS3256, rows 2-8  
 
Full details again at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/flights.html

FYI for anyone that may have been on the March 14 WS3256 flight that it was learned yesterday also had a confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 case on board, there is differing info on effected rows. The federal site shows rows 12-18 as opposed to the seat 12A that is showing on the provincial page:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice/exposure-flights-cruise-ships-mass-gatherings.html  
 
The provincial list of effected flights, including information on what to do if you were on board, again is https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/flights.html

If experiencing symptoms, the Health Links number is 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 toll-free. 

Brandon Police are saying that fraudsters are currently pretending to represent City employees, soliciting donations "to help with the COVID-19 battle." Via the link below, Police are clear that this is a scam and that the City is NOT soliciting or accepting donations.   
http://police.brandon.ca/media-zone/3705-30-march-2020

Separate note that might as well be included here rather than a totally separate post, but for anyone looking for today's daily provincial briefing they have now been moved to 1PM in stead of the prev 11am. At 1pm you'll be able to watch at https://gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html...which is something I'd recommend doing since the media questions at the end often bring out info and clarification that you don't always get in the text-based bulletins that are put out daily. 

New order announced today by the Province via the link below. Please read the entire document at the link and not this summary which gives information on what is within.  
 
All businesses not listed on an accompanying schedule of critical services must close between April 1 and 14. Effected businesses would still be able to operate on a remote basis.  
 
All restaurants are to no longer be permitted to serve customers for dine-in within their establishment, however will be permitted for delivery and takeout with appropriate social distancing for takeout orders. Please read entire link for further details on the announcement:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47337

The Province is directing to the website http://engagemb.ca for further details. 

From today's (Monday) bulletin, 24 new cases to announce in Manitoba as of 9:30am this morning. The provincial total stands at 96 confirmed+probable:
https://www.manitoba.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=47338

From the stats at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/ the Prairie Mountain Health region is now at 9 confirmed cases meaning 4 new confirmed cases today.

Nothing imminently Brandon related, but a noteworthy place to watch. I see that on the Flights page at the link below they’ve now added an “events” section and have re-named the page to "Flights and Events with confirmed cases."  
 
The only initial event listed is March 16th and Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg, but will be another place to stay informed on:  
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/flights.html  

The link is also available from the main menu on the provincial COVID-19 page.
 
Provincial media conference coming up at 1pm with the day’s update/bulletin

In today's update from the province, 7 new cases in Manitoba for a total of 103 between confirmed and probable. See bulletin at link below for full information from today.  
 
On the main provincial COVID-19 page, the count for the Prairie Mountain Health region shows as of today to be at 9 confirmed cases out of those 103 in the province. That would suggest that none of today's newly announced cases were in the Prairie Mountain region.  
 
In the bulletin they are speaking of a staff member at Selkirk Regional Health Centre that has been confirmed to have COVID-19 and have published a list of times from March 19-23 that the person will have been working in the Emergency Ward and Medicine Ward in Selkirk. For those that have had questions about disclosures/advisories that might be made in cases of potential community spread this shows how those cases may be handled.  
 
Read the full March 31 bulletin:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47342