Discussions

This is the fifth part of an ongoing thread on the COVID-19 pandemic and verified facts relating to impacts on the community. This the previous facts 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 
and the fourth thread any time at:  
https://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=1055869&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

The Province is reporting 15 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Wednesday, 13 of which are reported as in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Data by district from the Province shows a number of Brandon cases 13 higher than yesterday.  
   
Provincial data shows the following differences in age breakdown from yesterday as far as new Prairie Mountain Health region cases:  
50-59: 2 female, 1 male  
40-49: 2 female, 2 male  
30-39: 1 female, 2 male  
20-29: 1 female  
10-19: 1 female, 1 male  
 
Prairie Mountain shows as having 104 active cases, 112 recoveries and 1 death since the beginning of the pandemic. Brandon itself is showing as being 88 of those active cases, an increase of six from yesterday. Brandon shows as having 76 of those recoveries.  
 
They are stating that the new Prairie Mountain cases are mostly related to known cases.  
 
The most recent 5-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is reported to be 1.6%.    
   
Today’s full bulletin is at:    
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49088

Province has released a Provincial Pandemic Response System.  
Province of Manitoba as a whole is rated as "Caution," the second out of four levels on an escalating scale.  
 
Caution is described in the system as "Community transmission of COVID-19 is at low levels.Household and close contact transmission could be occurring in Manitoba. There may be single or isolated small cluster outbreaks which are quickly contained. Community transmission is low to undetectable."  
 
Direct link into the Prairie Mountain Health section, which has us rated at the "Caution" level as well, is:  
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/prairie_mountain/index.html  
 
Full press release on the new system is at:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49089

The Province is reporting 33 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Thursday, 17 of which are reported as in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Data by district from the Province shows a number of Brandon cases 17 higher than yesterday.  
   
Provincial data shows the following differences in age breakdown from yesterday as far as new Prairie Mountain Health region cases:  
50-59: 1 male  
40-49: 5 female, 4 male  
30-39: 1 female, 3 male  
20-29: 1 male  
10-19: 2 male  
0-9: 1 male  
 
Prairie Mountain shows on the provincial stats dashboard as having 116 active cases, 118 recoveries and 1 death since the beginning of the pandemic. At the media conference Dr. Roussin stated the Prairie Mountain number as 95 active cases, the reason for discrepancy being unclear. Brandon itself is showing as being 100 of those active cases, an increase of 12 from yesterday. Brandon shows as having 81 of those recoveries.  
 
The region is said to now be in a state where there are multiple clusters that aren't necessarily connected rather than just the one that was being tracked. The majority of cases are said to be related to clusters, with there being increased community transfer.  
 
The important information out of today that everyone in the city needs to be aware of is that the Province announced at today’s media briefing that the Prairie Mountain Health region has been elevated to ‘orange’ (or restricted) status on the new pandemic response system. As a result new measures are to be in place effective Monday:  
 
-group sizes at gatherings indoor and outdoor are reduced to a limit of 10. It was said that these new restrictions will not apply to workplaces, places of business such as restaurants or other establishments that already have gathering boundaries under existing orders. 
-masks are made mandatory for indoor public places and outdoors for gatherings.  
More details are said to be forthcoming. Assume you’ll be able to find on the provincial Covid page. Will do best to post a link when available.  
 
A question was asked on why the change is being made for Prairie Mountain as opposed to Brandon as a whole. It was said that some cases have been acquired by traveling outside of Brandon, with large gatherings at areas such as beaches and parks being examples of places where cases have been discovered.  
 
This change reflects a need to change behaviours in the region, please take it seriously.  
 
You can read more about the pandemic response system at the link below including the larger document that gives some idea of what further restrictions we might see when announced:  
http://www.manitoba.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.html  
 
The most recent 5-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is reported to be 1.9%.    
   
Today’s full bulletin is at:    
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49098

FYI city livestream on right now at link below. Watch for replay later.   
https://youtu.be/o4Z8hurB1uc  
 
Mayor Chrest will also be on CBC radio around 5pm tonight on their “up to speed” program.

Prairie Mountain Health section of the Pandemic Response system updated with new measures. Please see link for further details, with these restrictions showing:  
 
Manitobans in the Prairie Mountain Health Region must:  
-Stay home when sick.  
-Practise social distancing, hand washing/sanitizing and cough etiquette.  
-Wear a mask in all indoor public places and at all indoor and outdoor public gatherings.  
-Follow public health guidance on travel and self-isolation.  
-Limit group sizes to a maximum of 10 people indoors and outdoors.  
-Vulnerable people, such as seniors, are encouraged to exercise additional caution.  
 
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/prairie_mountain/index.html

Via Prairie Mountain Health, pasting PSA below re the Keystone testing site and an early closure  today. Will be back again tomorrow. 
 
* * * *  
 
The outdoor drive through COVID-19 testing site located at the Keystone Centre parking lot in Brandon will close at NOON today, Friday, August 21. Vehicles will be accepted up until 11:30 am.  
 
The Town Centre continues to operate and will be open until 3:15 pm today.  
 
* * * *

Media release today on Prairie Mountain Health moving to 'restricted' status.  
 
From the release, effective August 24 and for a minimum of two weeks (two weeks from that date being September 7):  
 
"masks will be mandatory in all public indoor places and at all indoor and outdoor public gatherings in the region. Public gatherings will also be restricted to 10 people, both indoors and outdoors."  
 
Full release:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49099

The Province is reporting 34 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Friday, five of which are reported as in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Data by district from the Province shows a number of Brandon cases six higher than the number displayed yesterday.  
   
Provincial data shows the following differences in age breakdown from yesterday as far as Prairie Mountain Health region cases by age:  
50-59: 1 male  
40-49: 1 female, 2 male  
20-29: 1 male  
10-19: 1 male  
0-9: 2 male  
 
Some data incongruence with the above number totalling eight. In today’s media release the Province states that “A minor change was made this week to better link health regions investigating specific COVID-19 cases with regional case counts. This has caused a small reallocation of case counts among the province’s five health regions.” This might explain for that difference.  This re-allocating may also explain why the Brandon number increased by more than the Prairie Mountain Health number from day-to-day. 
 
Prairie Mountain shows as having 116 active cases, 125 recoveries and 1 death since the beginning of the pandemic. Brandon itself is showing as being 99 of those active cases, an decrease of one from yesterday. Brandon shows as having 88 of those recoveries.  
 
 
The most recent 5-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is reported to be 2%.    
   
Today’s full bulletin is at:    
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49100

A bit of a different look at pandemic state in Manitoba in the embed below. Provincially in active cases per 100k we’re second to Alberta. If it’s just Brandon, take the Alberta bar and make it about eight times as wide for our active case count.. granted smaller sample size!  
 

Active cases compared to other provinces. pic.twitter.com/qi7yXNvqfq

— Jacques Marcoux (@jacquesmarcoux) August 21, 2020

Dr. Brent Roussin and Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen have called a rare Sunday news conference at 1 p.m. to provide a #COVID19 update.

&mdash: ChrisD.ca (@ChrisDca) August 23, 2020

The Province is reporting 72 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Sunday, 45 of which are reported as in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Data by district from the Province shows a number of Brandon cases 10** higher than yesterday (see note below)  

Prairie Mountain shows as having 164 active cases, 146 recoveries and 1 death since the beginning of the pandemic.  
 
**Brandon is showing an active case count of 109 to go along with 101 recoveries. This total sum is ten higher than the sum of yesterday’s Brandon active cases and recoveries, though with the error in yesterday’s data export on the Provincial stats page I can’t be 100% confident in saying that it’s ten new Brandon cases.  
 
It was stated that 47 of the 72 new reported cases today are related to known clusters in communal living communities and testing campaigns in those communities. There was emphasis to avoid stigma in connection with communities of that description.  
 
There was a question relating to a hockey tournament being held in Brandon this weekend. Dr. Roussin stated that while its allowed within rules both now and Monday when the new restrictions come into effect, its clearly against recommendations from public health. The same question asked about the timing of the delay in putting in the 'orange' changes on Monday, the delay described as coming from trying to find the right balance between giving enough notice and giving too short of notice.  
 
Question was asked about cases related to the business in Brandon that’s been discussed on an ongoing basis this month. It was said that 70 total are related to that business, 37 are active. It was said that there continues to be no evidence of workplace transmission.  

Question was asked about learning the weekly test positivity rate in Prairie Mountain Health specifically. Dr. Roussin stated that don't reliably have the information to share as a regional breakdown and so don't want to share confidently right now.

In response to a further question relating to the Brandon cluster, it was said that multi-family households as well as gatherings have been contributors to the situation we’ve seen.  
 
The most recent 5-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is reported to be 2.7%, a significant increase from yesterday’s reported number of 1.8%.  
   
Today’s full Provincial bulletin is at:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49103

Further to above, the age breakdown of Sunday's new reported Prairie Mountain Health cases will be the following when comparing yesterday's data to today. The net total of these new additions equals the 45 number reported by the Province for the Prairie Mountain Health region:
 
80-89: 1 female  
70-79: 2 male  
60-69: 2 female, 2 male  
50-59: 6 female, 2 male  
30-39: 3 female, 5 male  
20-29: 5 female, 7 male  
10-19: 5 female, 4 male  
0-9: 1 female

Data is not made available on age distribution specific to Brandon to be able to differentiate which of these cases is Brandon versus which are elsewhere in Prairie Mountain such as cases found from testing campaigns in communal living communities as noted in today's press conference. 

The Province is reporting 49 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Monday, 35 of which are reported as in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Data by district from the Province shows a number of Brandon cases 8 higher than yesterday  
 
Out of today’s cases in Manitoba, 24 of those are said to be linked to yesterday and 25 to today meaning yesterday's case count was 96 and today's the 25. 
   
Compared to yesterday’s data, these are the increases by age group in Prairie Mountain:  
70-79: 1 female  
60-69: 3 female, 3 male  
50-59: 5 female, 2 male  
40-49: 3 female, 5 male  
30-39: 3 female, 1 male  
20-29: 4 female, 3 male  
10-19: 2 female  
 
Prairie Mountain shows as having 196 active cases, 149 recoveries and 1 death since the beginning of the pandemic. Brandon is showing an active case count of 114, five higher than yesterday. Brandon is showing at 104 recoveries.  
 
Of today’s Prairie Mountain cases, the majority are said to be linked to clusters in communal living communities.  
 
52 total Prairie Mountain cases are said to be linked to a business in Brandon with 34 of those being active. 20 total cases of those that are linked to the broader Prairie Mountain cluster.  
 
There have been 236 total cases linked to communal living communities with 148 active.  
 
The most recent 5-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is reported to be 2.9%.  
   
Today’s full Provincial bulletin is at:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49107

For the sake of bigger picture over the past nearly two weeks, the numbers below show the number of new Brandon cases by day based on the count of Brandon district cases published daily by the province since August 13:  
 
Aug 13: 11  
Aug 14: 17  
Aug 15: 3  
Aug 16: 5  
Aug 17: 23**  
Aug 18: 1  
Aug 19: 13  
Aug 20: 17  
Aug 21: 6  
Aug 22: 13  
Aug 23: 10  
Aug 24: 8  
Aug 25: 8  
 
Past five days: 45  
Five days prior to that: 59  
 
** on this day the Prairie Mountain Health case count showed at 20. Its unclear why the Brandon case count showed three higher than that.  

In terms of active cases, based on national data published on the Government of Canada website the country had 4870 active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday. Brandon's number on that same day as published by the province is 114 (as per above its 120 today). The 114 number represents slightly more than 1 in 50 all Canadian active cases. Brandon if you assume a population of 50,000 is less than 1/750 of the population of Canada.

As Manitoba’s countryside becomes one of Canada’s COVID-19 hotspots, experts in rural health say the pandemic will test officials’ trust with local communities, including Hutterite colonies.
"Most rural communities know what the answers are."https://t.co/C2hTeK9me3 #wfp pic.twitter.com/MmZjYt74so

— Dylan Robertson (@withfilesfrom) August 26, 2020

The Province is reporting 25 new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba on Wednesday, 8 of which are reported as in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Data by district from the Province shows a number of Brandon cases three higher than yesterday.  
   
Compared to yesterday’s data, these are the increases by age group in Prairie Mountain:  
60-69: 1 female  
40-49: 1 male  
30-39: 1 female  
20-29: 2 male  
10-19: 3 female  
 
Prairie Mountain shows as having 206 active cases, 157 recoveries and 1 death since the beginning of the pandemic. Brandon is showing an active case count of 120 to go along with 109 recoveries.  
 
From the release at the link below, two new potential exposures in Brandon and one more in Wasagaming:  
Aug 18 and 19, 8-10pm. GoodLife Fitness in Brandon  
Aug. 18, 2-8pm at the Coffee Culture Café and Eatery in Brandon  
Aug 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 at the Foxtail Café in Wasagaming  
 
The most recent 5-day test positivity rate in Manitoba is reported to be 3.1%.  
   
Today’s full Provincial bulletin is at:  
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=49113