Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
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Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 33
Manitoba sees five straight days of double-digit COVID-19 case increases for only second time since pandemic began BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
to school, there is risk with massive shutdowns.” Those fundamentals include staying home and self-isolating when ill, practising good hand hygiene and physical distancing, and avoiding indoor gatherings. Roussin said people at increased risk due to other medical conditions or in areas with known clusters of cases like Brandon, should stay home as much as possible. “We need to find ways to live with this virus and not continually shut things down when we see cases,” Roussin said. “We know it’s still going to be here likely a year from now, even more.” Roussin also said that the optimal time for someone to get tested for the coronavirus is 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. Getting tested earlier than that increases the chance of a false positive result, while getting tested later can make public health contact tracing more difficult. Friesen said by the end of this week the government may be providing “more nuanced” details about the location of active cases than simply by health region, while Roussin said it is possible that more targeted
shutdowns and restrictions could be used if necessary to curb the spread of the virus in particular communities or regions. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), which represents 26 Northern Manitoba First Nations, urged their members to remain vigilant about COVID-19 even though there are currently no active cases in the north. “Although we have no cases in Northern Manitoba for now, we want to remind everyone to follow recommended public health measures to help prevent the spread of this virus,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee in an Aug. 10 press release. “We are living through a pandemic. We all must work diligently to help protect the health of First Nations peoples. I encourage First Nations citizens to remain calm and not panic. Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed to seek out a COVID test if you have symptoms. Encourage others around you to get tested if they are showing symptoms. Let’s continue working together and supporting each other to help keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Manitoba recorded its fifth straight day of doubledigit increases in the number of positive tests for the novel coronavirus Aug. 10, announcing 16 new cases. That came a day after 35 new cases were reported on Sunday. There were also 16 cases announced on Saturday and 17 on Friday as well as 30 announced Aug. 6, though that number was later revised down to 29. The 35 cases announced Aug. 9 was either the second-highest daily total since the pandemic began (40 new cases were announced at an April 2 press conference) or the highest, as the province’s graph of daily cases since the first positive test in mid-March indicates that 33 new positive tests occurred April 1. From Aug. 5 through Aug. 9, 113 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Manitoba, mostly in Brandon and in the southern health region. The only other time that there have been five consecutive days of double-digit increases was from March 31 to April 4, when a cumulative total of 97 new cases were reported, according to prov-
CDC image incial statistics online. The number of COVID-19 cases detected in the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) area remains at three and there has not been a positive test in the region for more than four months. “We are seeing increased numbers of cases but that is to be expected,” said chief
provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin during his regular Monday press conference, accompanied by Health Minister Cameron Friesen. The fact that there are now more active cases–196– than there were in the spring when public health orders restricted most businesses
from being open does not mean that the province is looking at another widespread shutdown, Roussin said. “Fundamentals can allow people to live with the virus rather than shutting things down,” he said. “Nothing is without risk but there is risk to not sending kids back
All Canadian Walmart stores will require shoppers and workers to wear face coverings as of Aug. 12 By Aug. 12, all Walmart customers and associates.” customers along with emFefer said customers ployees will be required in other parts of Canto wear masks or face ada where wearing face coverings across Canada, masks been Nickel Belt Newshas photo by IanmandatGraham a companyFoundation spokesperson ed by governments have Addictions of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. says. overwhelmingly followed BYWalmart IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather Canada corpor- to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say those recommendations. EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET thetrust dangers of polar ate affairs manager Felicia to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and“We that customThough written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Fefer toldshe’s the now Thompson ers in the rest of our stores a book about herper experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been would Citizen that 60 cent of where weviable are she initiating ces up in400 Churchill, “To say, ‘Those people have movedwill backrespect to Churchthe growing company’s Can- her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the this policy and Addictions of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. adian storesFoundation are in regions follow it and will bring Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite their “I miss where local governments own the faceshoreline, coveringsI Gisele deMeulles face said writas a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss I miss the have mandated cov- a couple of reasons. when the theyrock, shop,” she said. ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar even requirethough erings and that the policy The bears face mask always would dangerous and will be thought applied she to all the you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re ment is very the latest step Waldo. really Hudson remaining stores this week tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream Imart hasmiss takenthe to deal with myconsistency youth I never she says. “When I go to “In create and head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” the COVID-19 pandemic, felt at the writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back on the helpgood lessen likelihood Feferhome, said, standing along with insaid. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on of customers or workers creased cleaning of stores, to Thompson to the getnovel into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it justchecks gives you an being exposed to temperature for all the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. Youstart feel so coronavirus. employees at the of at “Starting that point IAugust had to write you feel great.” 12, ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small each and shift, limits on the for university Now ofthat she’s got 2020, we are and nowrealized, requir- do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of Church- number people in stores, ‘Holy, not bad and at this, bookofunder hercarts, belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one ing allI’m customers as- she’s an artist, she’s got so cleaning shopping right?’ I certainly developed Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try sociates working in any many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things floor markings and onea lot of skill university any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce Walmart storeinnot already cause she always tells her she might not do again. way aislesanother. to encourage and came of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if Thompson someone came youphoto and physical “I have distancing, another bookand in subject toout a local governCitizentofile a verymandate strong skill in my said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says.of“It’s a darker ment to wear a Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. installation plexiglass Fefer. “Health Canada just has high a mask/face covering can piratory droplets. Safety we will to take story, writing dence in hounded her, ‘Please, Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave yourcontinue home community more personmask orand faceconfi covering dividers at about registers and identified that,I when worn reduce the“It spread his hardware continues store to be there,” Walmart’s measures to en- al my I write very put it on tape, will write it deMeulles. didn’tof dawn she and we’re necessary going to displace growthservice and struggles. areaswriting. of our stores accesscustomer desks, as a person wearing ownafter. infectious res-a number one priority and sure the well-being of our clear that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story or on her me until That was says. you somewhere else and all Maybe the next five years ible and to the public,” said properly, well asinpharmacies. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”