WINNIPEG Health-care workers reassigned or redeployed to specific areas in Manitoba during the pandemic are set to get a new benefit. On Thursday, the Province of Manitoba said it had reached an agreement with the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) and will now compensate the staff that have been redeployed or reassigned to priority areas during the pandemic. According to the province, these priority areas include personal care homes, intensive care units and COVID-19 units across Manitoba. It said the agreement would enable health-care employers to make changes to employees work assignments, locations, schedules, shift patterns, and hours. Any staff that are affected will receive an allowance each time their normal work schedule or location is disrupted with a reassignment or redeployment to these priority areas.
Brandon Sun Posted:
Though numbers have been trending slowly downward for the last week or two, Manitobans received strong evidence on Monday that all the code red restrictions we have been forced to endure for the last several weeks are finally having the desired effect.
Though numbers have been trending slowly downward for the last week or two, Manitobans received strong evidence on Monday that all the code red restrictions we have been forced to endure for the last several weeks are finally having the desired effect.
For the first time since late October, the daily case count for new COVID-19 cases fell to 167, and the five-day test positivity rates dropped to 11.5 per cent for Manitoba, and 10.5 per cent in Winnipeg. Unfortunately, another four Manitobans died of COVID-19.
Brandon Sun Posted:
Deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal, right, and provincial chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa give the provincial COVID-19 update at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Monday. (Winnipeg Free Press)
As COVID-19 case numbers dipped below 200 for the first time since mid-November, Health Minister Cameron Friesen repeatedly turned to winter solstice symbolism to provide a message for Manitobans.
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As COVID-19 case numbers dipped below 200 for the first time since mid-November, Health Minister Cameron Friesen repeatedly turned to winter solstice symbolism to provide a message for Manitobans. Today it is the winter solstice. It is the shortest daylight day of the year and the Manitobans … Today is the darkest day. The thing about the winter solstice is it does represent that darkest day, but it also represents a turning point, Friesen said Monday.
Winnipeg Free Press
Health minister delivers precipitously optimistic turning point message By: Tom Brodbeck | Posted: 7:00 PM CST Monday, Dec. 21, 2020
Opinion
Manitobans may finally be getting a payoff after weeks of strict COVID-19 restrictions. But Health Minister Cameron Friesen’s mini victory lap Monday was premature.
Manitobans may finally be getting a payoff after weeks of strict COVID-19 restrictions. But Health Minister Cameron Friesen’s mini victory lap Monday was premature.
The province announced 167 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, the lowest daily number since late October. For the first time since Nov. 15, Manitoba’s test positivity rate fell below 13 per cent over the weekend (dropping to 11.5 per cent Monday). It’s still high and remains above the national average. The World Health Organization says the rate should be below five per cent before governments loosen their restrictions. Nevertheless
He joined Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitoba’s acting deputy chief public health officer, and Lanette Siragusa, provincial lead of health system integration and quality and chief nursing officer for Shared Health, for the COVID-19 update. “It represents a turning of the tides, where the days begin to become long. That creates hope for a lot of Manitobans … I think about that and apply it to where we are in this pandemic path. I would also say that today represents a turning point. We have seen in the last few weeks a turning, both in numbers and the promise and arrival of vaccine …”