Wastewater monitoring shows potential peak of COVID-19 transmission in Winnipeg
On a blustery day bitter cold temperatures eased, providing some relief to Manitobans in search some fresh air and a walk to lunch.
Despite public health measures which allow indoor dining, Tanya Schulz is opting to stick with take out, for now.
“Because I don’t think anyone should expose themselves to COVID, and I think you can expose yourself wherever you are now,” Schulz said.
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer said the province is in fact continuing to see a significant amount of spread of COVID-19.
But he said wastewater monitoring in Winnipeg conducted by the National Microbiology Lab, used to help determine the level of virus in the community shows the worst of this latest wave of infections may have already passed.
“There was a potential peak in early January, however, since then we haven’t seen any dramatic decline and we’re seeing quite variable levels since that time,” Roussin said in a Wednesday update.
Roussin stressed it is only one indicator and it is still too early to make any definitive conclusions.
He said what is most important is looking at the impact on the health care system, which is still strained.
The situation is leaving residents, businesses and organizations in limbo over what the next public health orders might look like with the current measures set to expire Feb.1.
Darrel Nadeau, executive director of Festival du Voyageur, said a hybrid in-person and virtual edition of the annual celebration of French culture has already been planned to take place under the current public orders when it kicks off in just over three weeks.
Most activities will take place outdoors or virtually with some in-person, indoor concerts held. But under the current measures it would mean a maximum of 250 people would be allowed to attend outside at Voyageur Park, which can usually accommodate 4,000 people.
“It’ll be very small so our preference would be for an increase to outdoor capacity and then obviously following all the public health orders otherwise in terms of masking, in terms of distancing, in terms of vaccination checks,” said Nadeau.
Roussin said an announcement will be made in the coming days but wouldn’t give any hints on what the orders will look like.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Hurts like hell': What goes into the price of gas in Canada
With the price of gas rising above $2 per litre and setting new records in Canada this year, CTVNews.ca looks at what goes into the price per litre of gasoline and where the situation could go from here.
'This is an unusual situation': Feds monitoring monkeypox cases in Canada
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the federal government is monitoring monkeypox cases and their chains of transmission after two cases were confirmed in this country.
Russia claims to have taken full control of Mariupol
Russia claimed to have captured Mariupol on Friday in what would be its biggest victory yet in its war with Ukraine, following a nearly three-month siege that reduced much of the strategic port city to a smoking ruin, with over 20,000 civilians feared dead.
'Fight for a stronger Alberta': Kenney comments for first time since announcing resignation
Premier Jason Kenney spoke publicly Friday for the first time since dropping the bombshell announcement that he plans to step down as UCP leader and premier of Alberta.
Ontario woman says daughter was discriminated against over face mask
An Ontario woman believes her daughter was discriminated against after she was allegedly kicked out of a local activity centre over her choice to wear a face mask.
WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases cross 100 in Europe
The World Health Organization was due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after more than 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe.
Decision to ban Huawei and ZTE from 5G wasn't easy, PM Trudeau says
On the heels of news that Canada is banning Huawei Technologies and ZTE from participating in the country’s 5G wireless networks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the decision wasn't easy to make. The prime minister also defended the timing of the decision, saying that while it will be years before all use of products from these Chinese companies will be outlawed, it's happening before the country is even more interconnected by the next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.
Quebec City Halloween attacker found guilty of first-degree murder
A man who used a sword to kill and maim victims in Quebec City's historic district on Halloween night 2020 has been found guilty of murder.
Rising temperatures from climate change could reduce sleep: study
Rising global temperatures could reduce the amount of sleep people get every year, according to a new study.
Regina
-
SHA leasing 110K square feet of College Ave. office building
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has leased more than 110,000 sq. ft. of the former Co-operators building on College Avenue, with plans to move hundreds of employees into the space.
-
Calls for more mobile clinics as Canadian Blood Services pleads for donations
An Estevan resident is calling for the return of more mobile clinics as Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is seeking more donations across the country.
-
Charleston Hughes returns to the Roughriders highly motivated
Charleston Hughes is back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after spending last season with the Toronto Argonauts.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon police investigating after reports of shots fired, man found dead behind apartment building
Saskatoon police are investigating after reports of two men being injured, shots fired and one person found dead.
-
Saskatoon mom pushing for in-person doctor visits after her daughter went two years with undiagnosed respiratory issues
A Saskatoon mother is sharing the importance of in-person doctor’s appointments after it took two years to figure out why her daughter was experiencing reoccurring respiratory issues.
-
Charleston Hughes returns to the Roughriders highly motivated
Charleston Hughes is back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after spending last season with the Toronto Argonauts.
Northern Ontario
-
Police remind boaters about rules and regulations ahead of long weekend
With the May long weekend finally here, the Ontario Provincial Police and boating safety advocates are reminding boaters to follow safety rules, especially with so many other boaters out there.
-
Much of northeast under severe thunderstorm watch, hail possible
Severe thunderstorms could develop Friday afternoon in communities across northeastern Ontario, Environment Canada said.
-
Dozens of Northern cats need forever homes
Dozens of cats arrived in Barrie from Northern Ontario, hoping to be adopted by their forever families.
Edmonton
-
'Really bad place': People in Edmonton's Chinatown sad, scared after deaths
Terry Dell has been living on the streets of central Edmonton for a few months now, and he's scared.
-
Things to do in Edmonton on May long weekend
You have three days off and don't know what to do? You've come to the right place. CTV News Edmonton has compiled a list of events around the city this weekend.
-
Bird flu found in Alberta skunks for first time: experts
Alberta is the latest Canadian province to have found avian influenza, or bird flu, in another species.
Toronto
-
Ontario woman says daughter was discriminated against over face mask
An Ontario woman believes her daughter was discriminated against after she was allegedly kicked out of a local activity centre over her choice to wear a face mask.
-
TABLE TALK
TABLE TALK | Ice cream with a twist on tradition is returning to Toronto
Ice cream was a vehicle for confectioner Ed Wong to explore his identity as the son of Chinese immigrants. After a brief hiatus, his East and Southeast Asian flavours are returning to the city.
-
BA.2.20 in Ontario doesn't warrant significant concern, experts say
Nearly 1,000 confirmed cases of a new sublineage of the Omicron variant have been discovered in Ontario to date, newly released data from Public Health Ontario show, but experts say it doesn't warrant significant concern.
Calgary
-
Man charged in sexual assault of 14-year-old Calgary girl
Police say the victim, a 14-year-old girl, was walking to school at the time.
-
'Fight for a stronger Alberta': Kenney comments for first time since announcing resignation
Premier Jason Kenney spoke publicly Friday for the first time since dropping the bombshell announcement that he plans to step down as UCP leader and premier of Alberta.
-
Matthew Tkachuk sends support to Edmonton Oilers mega-fan Ben Stelter
Matthew Tkachuk says all of the Flames are behind Oilers fan Ben Stelter.
Montreal
-
After week of questions over Bill 96 and health, official answers still lack detail
Quebec's College of Physicians and some top lawyers say there's lots of grey area in how Bill 96 will play out in health care -- even after multiple requests to the province to clear up confusion.
-
Montreal police searching for man reported missing in St. Lawrence River
Montreal police officers are among search and rescue teams patrolling a stretch of the St. Lawrence river following reports that a man may have fallen in.
-
Canadian government eyeing vaccines after monkeypox outbreak in Quebec
The federal government said it is exploring the possibility of using its limited stockpile of smallpox vaccines to protect Quebecers from the recent outbreak of the disease's cousin, monkeypox.
Ottawa
-
Long weekend kicks off in Ottawa
Ottawa has plenty of events for Victoria Day which not only could be popular with the hometown crowd, but for tourists as well.
-
Ottawa gas prices drop, but not for long
Your long weekend road trip will be a little cheaper today, as gas prices drop below $2 a litre at Ottawa stations.
-
Brett Kissel concert at TD Place postponed at the last minute
Country star Brett Kissel has postponed his concert at Ottawa's Arena at TD Place tonight due to an issue with his voice.
Atlantic
-
'I'm just in shock': Fire at Dartmouth scrap metal business under control; air quality improves
A section of Dartmouth's Burnside Industrial Park was shut down Friday after a fire in a scrapyard triggered alerts and air quality warnings.
-
Kalin's Call: Warmer temperatures, risk of thunderstorms expected for long weekend
Some warmer temperatures are expected for the Maritimes during the upcoming May long weekend. With that, however, brings a few rounds of showers with a risk of thunderstorms.
-
Costs reach $25.6 million for public inquiry into 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia
The public inquiry into Nova Scotia's mass shooting has already cost $25.6 million to investigate the April 18-19, 2020, rampage -- and there are still about five months remaining in its mandate.
Kitchener
-
Mysterious foam erupts from Cambridge, Ont. roadway
The City of Cambridge is investigating after a mysterious foam erupted from the intersection of Fountain Street and King Street twice in the past 24 hours.
-
Ridings to watch in Guelph and Waterloo region
A lot has changed locally since the last time voters headed to the polls for a provincial election. A local political scientist breaks it down.
-
'Somebody out there is missing this child': Remains of young girl found in water in Dunnville, Ont.
Provincial police have provided new information about the age of a young girl whose body was found in the Grand River near Dunnville, Ont. earlier this week.
Vancouver
-
COVID-19 map: The number of patients in B.C. hospitals declined this week, but not everywhere
The number of COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals reached its lowest point in weeks on Thursday, and regional data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows the decline was driven by hospitals in the Lower Mainland.
-
Discovery of missing man's body near YVR not considered suspicious, RCMP say
A body found in a ditch near Vancouver International Airport on Thursday is that of a man reported missing earlier this month, Richmond RCMP confirmed Friday.
-
B.C. man brought toddler along while robbing gas station, RCMP say
A father allegedly brought his young child along while robbing a gas station in B.C.'s Southern Interior this week, a crime authorities described as "deeply disturbing."
Vancouver Island
-
2 people rescued, man still missing after boat capsizes on Vancouver Island
Two people were rescued and one man is still missing after a fishing boat capsized Thursday night in a remote region of Vancouver Island.
-
Funeral services held for decorated 100-year-old Canadian fighter ace
Funeral services were held Friday morning for Second World War fighter ace James "Stocky" Edwards in Courtenay, B.C.
-
Crackdown on youth gatherings downtown to continue this weekend: Victoria police
Victoria police say patrol officers will once again be out in force this weekend amid a rise in reports of youth vandalism and violence in the downtown core.