Discussions

This is the fourth part of an ongoing thread on the COVID-19 pandemic and verified facts relating to impacts on the community. This second thread was started after the initial thread reached a length where it was becoming harder to browse and running slower than I’d like.  
 
You can access and review the first thread any time at:  
https://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=1049926&cat_id=3  
and the second thread any time at:  
https://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=1050659&cat_id=14  
and the third thread any time at:  
https://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=1052577&cat_id=14  
 
***********************  
 
This thread should NOT be seen as a substitute for direction or advice from health authorities, physicians and levels of government. Relevant links are &#105:ncluded below for details from each of the province, country and WHO.  
 
Government of Manitoba page relating to the virus, including details on the number of tests conducted in the province:  
https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/  
 
Government of Canada page relating to the virus, with updates, advice, information on how to be prepared and information on prevention, symptoms and treatment:  
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html  
 
World Health Organization page on the virus  
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019  
 
I will be using this as a place to post relevant updates that I come into awareness of. I’d invite others to do the same. In an effort to ensure that folks’ replies are factual, if posting a fact and claiming it as such, you are asked to wherever possible &#105:nclude a link to a reputable source which may &#105:nclude one of the above, a reputable media outlet or the website or social media account of local entities being discussed.  
 
I should be clear that this isn’t a place for conspiracy theories or a place to get into an online battle over information from proper authorities. This thread should not be seen as one’s sole place for local information on the virus and no guarantees are made as far as accuracy of information within.  
 
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation

May 2020 #BdnMB hotel occupancy 20.0%, down 30.7% when compared with May 2019. May 2020 year to date hotel occupancy 33.0%, down 26.6% when compared to the same period in 2019. https://t.co/H9UUWP1ARw

— EDBrandon (@EconDevBrandon) July 13, 2020

#BDNMB June 2020 unemployment rate 12.9% up 8.2% compared to June 2019. Above the MB unemployment rate (10.1%) and the National rate of 12.3%. https://t.co/3wM9k3LIJj

— EDBrandon (@EconDevBrandon) July 14, 2020

Via Sun link below, Dr Roussin started that as far as he new the new Prairie Mountain cases were not on colonies:  
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/three-new-covid-19-cases-in-pmh-571842051.html  
 
A good example of why I find it important to read what the Sun has to say on these developments when their story goes live. In this market we have an unfortunate race to get short articles posted first for the sake of clicks. Often that means stories that are mainly copied and pasted from source or are just a few sentences long. Unfortunately in those cases, those posting the short articles often don’t do the research and ask the questions necessary to get these kinds of answers. A big thank you to the Sun for looking deeper for the answers and asking the questions that help get us there. 

Some discussion on the topic of the new cases in the ongoing COVID discussion thread at https://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=1053777&cat_id=14

From the link below, eight more cases in Manitoba today... two of which are in the Prairie Mountain Health region. The bulletin at the link states that 7 of today's 8 are on Hutterite colonies, which of course means that at least one of Prairie Mountain's is. 
 
Link:
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=48677

The Province is asking for feedback on Phase 4 of the Restoring Safe Services plan. More info on what's proposed is at:  

https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=48620&posted=2020-07-21

Both Brandon branches of the Western Manitoba Regional Library are closed to the public the week of July 20-25 because a library staff member is awaiting COVID-19 test results. https://t.co/XcytD1ij2Z #bdnmb pic.twitter.com/Lbq2TacqNI

&mdash: The Brandon Sun (@thebrandonsun) July 22, 2020

One additional Prairie Mountain case in Tuesday's update, which makes it 39 in total since the pandemic started and 13 active cases:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f55693e56018406ebbd08b3492e99771
 
Thought I would also pass along a note that Shared Health put out on social media yesterday that has made a lot of the rounds and is worth putting an exclamation point next to...  

Also important to note to be kind. COVID-19 does not discriminate and there is no place for judgement or shaming or targeting those who have contracted or recovered from the virus. It's unacceptable. https://t.co/pQygq34myO

— Shared Health (@SharedHealthMB) July 28, 2020

Two more new cases in Prairie Mountain including potential exposures in the area.  
This from the link below:  

“Public health officials are advising that potential exposure to COVID-19 may have occurred from a case identified today at Blazers Mini Mart, 140 Main St N., Minnedosa, on July 25 and from a case identified Thursday at the Asian Spices of Brandon, 437-A 10th St, Brandon, on July 22 and 23.  

People who are considered close contacts of a COVID-19 case will be contacted by public health officials and advised to self-isolate. Others who were at these sites on those days do not need to self-isolate, but should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.  

If people develop symptoms, they should self-isolate and visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19/to use the online screening tool, or call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257 for health guidance on how to seek testing.“  
 
Full link:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=48858

Province announced two new cases today in Manitoba, making it 27 going back to Saturday.  
 
Significance of today's media conference also of course being finally learning the details of the uptick in announced cases over the weekend. Counting today's cases, they are saying there have been ten new cases in Prairie Mountain Health since and including Saturday out of 27 in the province as a whole.  
 
On the online stats dashboard, the previous number on Friday had shown 43 cases in Prairie Mountain on Friday and data is showing 54 today which is a difference of 11... not totally clear on that difference of one. In differentiating the data from Friday, that 11 breaks down as:  
 
60-69: 1 female, 1 male  
40-49: 1 female  
30-39: 1 female, 6 male  
10-19: 1 male  
 
It was stated at the media conference that the majority of new cases in Manitoba are travel-related, known contacts or to household contacts. It was later further stated that to knowledge, the 27 new cases going back through the weekend are not linked to unknown community spread though two of those still need to be investigated.  
 
Today's bulletin:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=48897  
 
COVID stats for Manitoba where you can also choose to further break down by health authority:  
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/cases.html

Edited by Adam, 2020-08-04 13:50:03

View this post on Instagram

We hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend! Welcome to August! For anyone wondering why there are cars lined up on 8th street by the Town Center, itu0026#39;s because they are doing testing for COVID-19 there, so if you have symptoms or are experiencing discomfort to COVID-19 related ailments, make proper arrangements to be Safely tested. The Brandon Town COVID-19 Assessment Center is the place to do so! 800 Rosser Ave, Brandon, MB R7A 6N5

A post shared by United Way Brandon u0026amp; District (@unitedwaybdn) on Aug 4, 2020 at 10:32am PDT