COVID-19: Latest News – Winnipeg Free Press

JEFF MCINTOSH / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
As of July 17, Manitoba had 443,000 rapid test kits in stock.

Covid tests on shelves, but demand low in Manitoba

Aaron Epp 3 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024

The Manitoba government has distributed 1.1 million COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits this year, but demand for them is low.

The province confirmed Wednesday it is still distributing rapid tests to pharmacies, doctors’ offices and retail locations. However, due to low demand from the public, many locations have not ordered tests for a significant period of time.

As of July 17, Manitoba had 443,000 rapid test kits in stock.

Testing is only recommended for people who are at high risk of serious outcomes so they can receive early treatment, such as antivirals.

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Failed plan to produce COVID vaccine in Winnipeg generates multibillion-dollar lawsuit

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Preview

Failed plan to produce COVID vaccine in Winnipeg generates multibillion-dollar lawsuit

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Thursday, Jun. 20, 2024

An Alberta company has filed a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against an American manufacturer over a failed plan to produce tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses at its Winnipeg plant.

Providence Therapeutic Holdings got in touch with officials at Emergent Biosolutions to discuss a deal to develop and produce the vaccine at the Winnipeg facility, operated by Emergent’s Canadian affiliate, in January 2021.

But a statement of claim filed June 13 by Alberta lawyers David Bishop and Ricki Johnson in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench on Providence’s behalf alleges Emergent misrepresented itself to secure an agreement to develop and make the vaccine.

The Alberta company claims in its court papers that it would have received “substantial financial benefit” had the deal proceeded as planned.

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Thursday, Jun. 20, 2024

JESSE BOILY / FREE PRESS FILES
Providence Therapeutic Holdings is asking the court for an award of just over US$3 billion in damages from Emergent for alleged misrepresentation, negligence and breach of agreement.

Paxlovid no longer available for free to provinces

Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Preview

Paxlovid no longer available for free to provinces

Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 1, 2024

Ottawa will no longer help vulnerable Canadians get an antiviral pill used to treat COVID-19.

The federal government stopped supplying Paxlovid to the provinces and territories for free on Sunday.

“The provinces and territories are responsible for determining how best to implement and manage the available supply of COVID-19 therapeutics, including Paxlovid,” Mark Johnson, a spokesman for Health Canada, said Thursday.

“Provincial and territorial jurisdictions will assume the primary procurement role to secure ongoing access to COVID-19 therapeutics, like Paxlovid, as they do with other medications.”

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Monday, Apr. 1, 2024

Paxlovid is used to treat COVID-19. (Supplied)

Respiratory season volume keeps up pressure on city hospitals

Katie May 4 minute read Preview

Respiratory season volume keeps up pressure on city hospitals

Katie May 4 minute read Monday, Jan. 8, 2024

Intensive care admissions continue to climb in Manitoba as respiratory virus hospitalizations appear to have peaked.

Patient volumes at Winnipeg emergency rooms are closer to normal levels, after rising in December. However, pediatric and adult ICUs and ERs are still very busy and such volume continues to contribute to patient flow problems, Shared Health stated Monday.

Provincial vaccination rates against influenza and COVID-19 remain relatively low for the general population. Less than 24 per cent of Manitobans have received a recent seasonal flu shot; nearly 18 per cent got a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot within the past six months.

By the end of last flu season, approximately 43 per cent of Canadians had received a shot.

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Monday, Jan. 8, 2024

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Epidemiologist, Cynthia Carr says the easiest things members of the public can do to avoid putting pressure on the health system are to stay home when sick and get vaccinated.

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., states scrambled for masks and other protective gear.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, many states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

With expiration dates passing and few requests to tap into its stockpile, Ohio auctioned off 393,000 gowns for just $2,451 and ended up throwing away another 7.2 million, along with expired masks, gloves and other materials. The now expiring supplies had cost about $29 million in federal money.

A similar reckoning is happening around the country. Items are aging, and as a deadline to allocate federal COVID-19 cash approaches next year, states must decide how much to invest in maintaining warehouses and supply stockpiles.

Read

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

Boxes of personal protection equipment maintained by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services are shown stacked in a warehouse in Jefferson City, Mo., on Dec. 1, 2023. (Brad Bashore/Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services via AP)

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., states scrambled for masks and other protective gear.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, many states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

With expiration dates passing and few requests to tap into its stockpile, Ohio auctioned off 393,000 gowns for just $2,451 and ended up throwing away another 7.2 million, along with expired masks, gloves and other materials. The now expiring supplies had cost about $29 million in federal money.

A similar reckoning is happening around the country. Items are aging, and as a deadline to allocate federal COVID-19 cash approaches next year, states must decide how much to invest in maintaining warehouses and supply stockpiles.

Read

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., states scrambled for masks and other protective gear.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, many states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

With expiration dates passing and few requests to tap into its stockpile, Ohio auctioned off 393,000 gowns for just $2,451 and ended up throwing away another 7.2 million, along with expired masks, gloves and other materials. The now expiring supplies had cost about $29 million in federal money.

A similar reckoning is happening around the country. Items are aging, and as a deadline to allocate federal COVID-19 cash approaches next year, states must decide how much to invest in maintaining warehouses and supply stockpiles.

Read

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

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States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., states scrambled for masks and other protective gear.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, many states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

With expiration dates passing and few requests to tap into its stockpile, Ohio auctioned off 393,000 gowns for just $2,451 and ended up throwing away another 7.2 million, along with expired masks, gloves and other materials. The now expiring supplies had cost about $29 million in federal money.

A similar reckoning is happening around the country. Items are aging, and as a deadline to allocate federal COVID-19 cash approaches next year, states must decide how much to invest in maintaining warehouses and supply stockpiles.

Read

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

EU court annuls approval of French pandemic aid to Air France and Air France-KLM

The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

BRUSSELS (AP) — Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Malta Air won a court case Wednesday against the European Union's decision to approve billions of euros in state aid by the French government to Air France and holding company Air France-KLM during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryanair has filed several court challenges against measures introduced by EU countries to help some airlines weather the fallout of coronavirus restrictions.

The bloc's 27 members must seek approval from the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, when granting financial support to companies. Many countries across Europe did so to help keep their airlines afloat during the pandemic.

Back in 2020, French authorities notified the European Commission of an aid measure of 7 billion euros ($7.67 billion), which was supposed to benefit Air France solely, to the exclusion of all the other companies in the Air France-KLM group. A year later, France told the European Commission about plans for 4-billion-euro ($4.38 billion) recapitalization of Air France and the holding company.

States are trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 9 minute read Preview

States are trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Jennifer Peltz And David A. Lieb, The Associated Press 9 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., many states like Ohio scrambled for masks and other protective gear. Supplies were so limited in 2020 that the state bought millions of medical gowns from a marketing and printing company and spent about $20 million to try to get personal protective equipment made in-state.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, Ohio and other states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

With expiration dates passing and few requests to tap into the stockpile, Ohio auctioned off 393,000 gowns for just $2,451 and ended up throwing away another 7.2 million, along with expired masks, gloves and other materials. The now expiring supplies had cost about $29 million in federal money.

A similar reckoning is happening around the country. Items are aging, and as a deadline to allocate federal COVID-19 cash approaches next year, states must decide how much to invest in maintaining warehouses and supply stockpiles.

Read

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

Hospitals strained by respiratory viruses forced to cancel surgeries; officials urge unvaccinated to get flu, COVID shots

Katie May 4 minute read Preview

Hospitals strained by respiratory viruses forced to cancel surgeries; officials urge unvaccinated to get flu, COVID shots

Katie May 4 minute read Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

Surgeries are being postponed amid “serious capacity challenges” in Manitoba’s health system this flu season, the province’s health minister and top doctor announced Thursday.

Postponing a scheduled surgery “is only ever done as a last resort,” Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said during a news conference with Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer. They urged Manitobans to get their flu shots and COVID-19 boosters, saying most patients now landing in the ICU with respiratory symptoms are unvaccinated.

Officials are working to reschedule postponed surgeries as soon as possible, the health minister said, noting several elective procedures recently had to be cancelled at Grace Hospital.

There were 64 elective surgeries postponed at Winnipeg hospitals in the past two weeks owing to lack of staff or beds.

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Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

Premier adds voice to provincial vaccination push

Danielle Da Silva 3 minute read Preview

Premier adds voice to provincial vaccination push

Danielle Da Silva 3 minute read Monday, Oct. 30, 2023

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew rolled up his sleeves to get his seasonal influenza and COVID-19 booster shots Monday morning, as doses continue to be distributed across the province.

The premier held a photo-op at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village to raise public awareness for the province’s fall immunization campaign.

He received one shot in each arm, and repeated the government’s message to “stay on track” with vaccination.

“I really encourage everyone in Manitoba to do the same, if you haven’t already,” Kinew said following his shots.

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Monday, Oct. 30, 2023

(Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)
Premier Wab Kinew receives his COVID-19 and flu vaccines from Adrian Gulowaty, pharmacist at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village.

COVID, flu vaccines in short supply as clinics, pharmacies wait for new supply

Katie May 5 minute read Preview

COVID, flu vaccines in short supply as clinics, pharmacies wait for new supply

Katie May 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

Some Winnipeggers are having trouble securing a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot appointment as pharmacies and clinics await more doses.

With fall respiratory virus season underway, the earliest available appointments are weeks away at some pharmacies for the latest booster shot targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant. There is a staggered rollout of the vaccine, which first became available in the province Oct. 4. Some clinics and pharmacies have already allocated all of the doses in their first shipment and are waiting for more.

Pharmacies can expect to receive all of their allotted flu shot doses by the end of the month, a provincial government spokesman said Wednesday, acknowledging there initially weren’t enough to go around. There is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, the government stated, saying the Moderna booster is available to eligible Manitobans aged six months or older.

“Additional influenza vaccine has already arrived in Manitoba and is currently being allocated and distributed to health-care providers. Throughout the vaccination campaign, all providers can request both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines via scheduled order surveys that align with vaccine supply delivery,” the spokesman stated.

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Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

Province imposes mask mandate for health-care staff contacts with patients

Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Preview

Province imposes mask mandate for health-care staff contacts with patients

Kevin Rollason 4 minute read Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

The province has ordered health-care staff working with patients to wear medical masks for the first time in months as outbreaks of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses hit hospital wards and personal-care homes.

Manitoba Health and Shared Health issued a statement Monday saying they’ve imposed the measure to protect the most-vulnerable populations.

Beginning Wednesday, medical-grade masks will be worn by staff “during direct interactions with patients.”

A Shared Health spokesman said Manitoba is guided by “evidence and leading practice” for respiratory viruses.

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Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
There are outbreaks of COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, or both, in wards in St. Boniface Hospital as well as other hospitals and health centres in Winnipeg.

COVID lockdown gatherings appeal denied

Free Press staff 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

A Manitoba judge has dismissed an appeal by five people convicted of repeatedly violating public health orders intended to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Patrick Allard, Gerald Bohemier, Todd McDougall, pastor Tobias Tissen and Sharon Vickner were fined a total of just more than $100,000 in August 2022.

They organized, attended or spoke at anti-lockdown rallies in Winnipeg, Steinbach and Winkler — breaching restrictions on outdoor gatherings — between November 2020 and May 2021.

The five appealed provincial court Judge Victoria Cornick’s pre-trial dismissal of a motion that claimed the public health orders violated their charter rights.

COVID, flu shots starting to become available across province

2 minute read Preview

COVID, flu shots starting to become available across province

2 minute read Friday, Oct. 6, 2023

The latest round of COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccinations are in Manitoba and available at some locations.

The first shipments of updated boosters are currently being sent throughout the province, with priority being given to the elderly and vulnerable, provincial officials said in a news release Friday.

Some hospitals, personal-care homes and vaccination sites have already received their doses, and stock is expected to be more widely available to the public in the coming weeks, the province said.

People are advised to check the province’s online vaccine finder, which will be updated with new locations and clinic details as they are submitted to the province.

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Friday, Oct. 6, 2023

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