Today’s horoscope

Glimmer of hope amid skyrocketing COVID-19 cases

As Manitoba's COVID-19 infection rates reach some of their highest yet, with more than 2,000 new cases recorded over the past four days, the pace of the vaccine rollout is offering a glimmer of hope that the province is in a better position now compared with last fall.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer, said Monday it's too soon to say if restrictions would be loosened when public health orders expire at the end of the month. The orders, which came into effect Sunday, are the strictest measures Manitoba has had since second-wave lockdown restrictions were lifted in February.

"We are considering a significant amount of Manitobans protected by the end of May, so we really wanted to have that opportunity to review things very closely, see if there's any chances to loosen some of these restrictions at that point," Roussin said.

For the third day since Friday, Manitoba recorded more than 500 new cases of COVID-19 — matching the province’s third-highest daily case count since the beginning of the pandemic. Another grim milestone is on the horizon as the province's death toll from the virus rose to 997, with four more deaths announced Monday.

Awareness is the first line of defence

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in Canada. This proclamation helps focus public attention on the very important protective role that such awareness can play in reducing the death and suffering associated with this disease.

The underlying reason for that is simple. In its beginning, prostate cancer, as is true for all cancers, starts and grows silently and stealthily, giving no indication through pain or other symptoms of its presence and of the developing pathology. Everything appears normal to the unsuspecting host until the cancer has grown to an extent that it interferes with normal function. There might then be pain, bleeding or some other manifestation of the growing tumour.

Unfortunately, by that time the disease may have reached an advanced stage, which is much more difficult to treat, and less likely to have a favourable outcome. It is a general truth in dealing with all types of cancer that the earlier it is discovered and treated, the better the likelihood of a favourable outcome. Awareness can be a major determinant of whether such early discovery happens or not.

Discovery of the cancer during its period of silent, surreptitious growth creates the opportunity for early treatment. Fortunately, in the case of prostate cancer such detection is favoured by two factors.

Opening of Bruce Oake Treatment Centre is 'not the finish line, it's the start

The COVID-19 pandemic has been responsible for postponing or cancelling all kinds of projects, but it didn’t affect construction of the Bruce Oake Treatment Centre, which will be finished months before the planned fall opening.

Leadership turnover at Hydro not a concern: Kinew

Premier Wab Kinew addressed the recent departure of Manitoba Hydro CEO Allan Danroth for the first time Wednesday, saying he’s not worried about turnover at the top of the province’s Crown jewel.

“I wish Mr. Danroth well,” Kinew said when asked about the resignation of the CEO hired just two years ago.

“I guess this is my first time addressing his departure, so I do want to thank him for his time with the Crown utility,” the premier said at an unrelated event. Danroth, who quit for personal reasons, replaced Jay Grewal, who was fired after the NDP formed government.

Kinew was asked if he has concerns about having a steady hand at the wheel of the province’s power company.

Food-waste program hits pay dirt in first year

“When was the last day you threw nothing away?”

It’s a question Karrie Blackburn likes to ask people to encourage thought and awareness about how we view waste.

As Winnipeg celebrates one year of success with community food waste drop-off sites, Blackburn — sales and customer service lead with Compost Winnipeg — remains passionate about all things related to composting and saving landfills from more methane-producing waste.

“We are incredibly proud of our community for embracing the food waste drop-off program,” she said. “This program diverts waste, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fosters a culture of sustainability in our city. The results speak for themselves.”