Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 12
Thompson COVID-19 screening clinic for people who have travelled internationally recently and have cold or flu-like symptoms opened March 16 BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
LAMBERT’S PAINT & DECOR STORE CLOSING NEWS PAGE 5
PAINT LAKE WON’T SELL PARK PERMIT LICENCES NEWS PAGE 6
There was one new positive test for the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, on March 16, the provincial government says. A man in his 80s who lives in Winnipeg tested positive for the virus and patient contact and public health investigations are underway. It is believed the man was exposed to the virus through recent travel. There were three positive tests on Sunday for a man in his 70s who lives in Winnipeg, a woman in her 70s who lives in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority and a woman in her 50s who lives in Winnipeg. They are also believed to have been exposed to COVID-19 through travel and patient contact and public health investigations are ongoing. Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at a March 16 press conference that about 400 tests were done March 15 and all came back negative.
A COVID-19 screening clinic in Thompson for people with cold or flu-like symptoms who have recently travelled internationally opened March 16 and will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said at a March 16 press conference. There have been eight positive tests for COVID-19 overall in Manitoba so far. A dedicated screening clinic has
been set up at the Northern Regional Health Authority clinic in the Plaza mall in Thompson. The screening clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and is intended for people who have recently travelled internationally and are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms. Additional clinics will be opening soon said Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa, with locations in The Pas and Flin Flon possibly opening as early as March 17. People who are over 70 years of age, who have significant underlying health conditions or who have compromised immunity may have scheduled surgeries postponed if their surgeon determines that their procedure can be safely delayed by three months without any significant effects on their health. Manitobans are also being urged to cancel or postpone any non-essential international travel. People who have travelled internationally in the past 14 days should not visit patients in acute or long-term care health facilities, Siragusa said, and visitor limits of one visitor per patient at a time are being enforced at acute care health facilities.
Spring break will be expanded by two weeks to help limit coronavirus spread All classes in Manitoba suspended as of March 23, education minister announces BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
SKIER WINS TWO MEDALS AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WINTER GAMES SPORTS PAGE 7
Manitoba students will get a spring break three times as long as normal due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said at a March 13 press conference that all Manitoba schools will suspend classes for three weeks beginning March 23.
The first week of suspension will come one week before the regularly scheduled spring break while the third week will be the week after the normal spring break. Classes will resume April 13. “We believe that our schools are safe,” said Goertzen. “This step is being taken with the community interest in mind and that it will lessen the impact of the virus.”
Teachers and other school staff will still be on the job for the week of March 23-27 and the week of April 6-9, working on lesson plans, in the case of teachers, and on required cleaning and maintenance for other staff. Goertzen said the school suspension was a proactive measure designed to lessen the impact of COVID-19.
In a press conference a few hours earlier on March 13, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said he was not recommending immediate school closures, noting that suspending classes can create problems for parents who need to arrange child care so that they can continue to work. “We’re giving notice to families to prepare,” said Premier Brian Pallister.
City closing facilities and council meetings to the public Committee meetings being put on hold until April 13
TEAM WINS PROVINCIALS IN FIRST TOURNAMENT TOGETHER SPORTS PAGE 7
The city of Thompson announced March 16 that all city facilities will be closed to the public as of 1:15 p.m. Monday. This includes the Thompson Regional Community Centre, City Hall and the public works office. The city said these closures will be re-evaluated after 30 days and that it is working on a plan for the waste disposal grounds to enable public access while protecting the public from exposure to COVID-19. A drop-box for mail and paperwork submission will be set up at the front door of City Hall. The city says council meetings will continue as scheduled but will be closed to the public, with the exception of Shaw TV, though they are exploring options to livestream the meeting
or to publish audio and video of the meetings afterwards. An email from the city said committee meetings are being cancelled until April 13. Gym passes and other cancelled registrations are being re-evaluated and pass holders will be contacted in the coming days. Public works, water treatment and city transit are operating as normal, the city said March 13, though additional disinfecting of city buses is taking place. Thompson Fire & Emergency Services has split its staff into three groups, with one stationed at the fire hall, another at the public works yard and the third at the Fire College. One of the teams will be dedicated to responding to ambulance calls involving respiratory distress to prevent
the entire department from being put at risk of being exposed to COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus. “I’m proud of our community and organizations that are taking proactive steps to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Colleen Smook, who self-isolated herself after returning from a Toronto conference also attended by a Sudbury man who later tested positive for COVID-19. “Cancelled and postponed events and closures shouldn’t create panic or fear in our residents: it just shows we are doing everything wee can to ensure the health and safety of the north.” The city can still be contacted via phone, email, Facebook or e-service request via the city’s website or smartphone app.