Early in the pandemic, we had to bid farewell to our old microwave.
We didn’t bother to get it tested for COVID-19, but my dear wife still counts it as one of the casualties of the coronavirus.
In its place, we have a new LG microwave that features a chime that repeatedly calls ever so gently to signal it has finished heating whatever we wanted heated. That pleasant beckoning tone almost makes up for the fact we lose our Wi-Fi whenever the new microwave is running. One step forward. One step back.
But LG’s beckoning innovations go well beyond that tone as the South Korean firm has now developed a mask that comes with miniature fans to draw in fresh air. In other words, a mask for all seasons of the pandemic.
I’ve turned my attention to masks today because Dr. Brent Roussin hinted a recommendation for wearing face coverings in all indoor places could come as early as the fall to help guard against the spread of the virus. The musing from the province’s chief public health officer — who has earlier questioned the effectiveness of wearing masks — is part of the continual evolution of Manitoba’s pandemic response.
That evolution now means we will only see one weekly briefing from Roussin about the province’s pandemic fight. For the past while — even when there was a run of 13 straight days with no new positive cases — there were two briefings per week. And in the early stages of the pandemic, there were briefings seven days a week.
It might be too cute by half to suggest the reduction in briefings is an attempt by the province at masking what’s going on with its pandemic response, especially as we are seeing a resurgence in cases.
But if we do end up going to mandatory masks in the fall, you might want to get in line now for what LG offers. And if we are all required to wear masks indoors while Roussin is required to only hold one weekly briefing for the public, we might want to ask why we are taking one step forward and one step back.
— Paul Samyn, Winnipeg Free Press editor
THE LATEST NUMBERS
Note: Manitoba and Canada figures may not match due to differences in data sources.
THE LATEST IN MANITOBA
• The province warned Manitobans Monday there may have been some public exposure to the novel coronavirus at an RM of St. Clements grocery store. The province announced six new cases Monday, one of which visited the Sherwood Grocery Store in Gull Lake, approximately 83 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, while symptomatic. The case visited the store July 19, 20 and 21. Those who were at the location on those days are not being asked to self-isolate but are advised to self-monitor for symptoms. The six new cases brings the total active cases in Manitoba to 74, and the total lab-confirmed positive and probable cases to 400. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at seven, and 319 people have recovered. There were 808 lab tests performed Sunday, bringing the total number of tests conducted since early February to 84,967.
• With cases surging in Manitoba, some Winnipeg locations are now requiring clients mask up. Gym franchise Planet Fitness, which operates four locations in Winnipeg, will require members and guests to wear masks inside the gyms beginning Aug. 1; employees have already been wearing masks while on the job. The Winnipeg Airports Authority will also begin requiring the use of masks at all times inside James Armstrong Richardson International Airport beginning July 29. The policy builds on a previous requirement that passengers wear a mask while going through security, booking, and when unable to maintain a distance of two metres from others. Passenger volumes through the terminal have increased, making maintaining physical distance between passengers more difficult, the WAA said.
• The WFPS Half Marathon won’t be getting off the starting line this year; organizers announced Monday the event has been cancelled owing to the ongoing pandemic. The October event has now been cancelled two consecutive years: last year, a sudden mid-October ice storm which felled trees and tree branches across the city led to the event’s cancellation. This year’s event had been slated to take place on Oct. 18.
THE LATEST ELSEWHERE
•- A COVID-19 vaccine candidate’s biggest test yet got underway Monday. A total of 30,000 Americans lined up to receive shots developed by the U.S. government as part of an all-out effort to develop an effective cure for the pandemic virus. The vaccine was developed by the National Institutes of Health and Modena, Inc., and shots of either the vaccine or a dummy were administered Monday at numerous sites around the U.S. without volunteers being told which they received. Results are not expected to trickle in for months, and there is no guarantee the vaccine will work.
• Major League Baseball’s plans for a baseball season are off to a poor start: two league games scheduled for Monday were postponed as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak among the Miami Marlins, in which more than a dozen players and staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus, leaving them stranded in Philadelphia. The Marlins’ home opener against Baltimore was nixed, as was New York’s game versus Philadelphia; New York would have had to use the same clubhouse the Marlins were in last weekend.
• While the Canada-U.S. border remains closed to tourists, Ottawa announced Monday it is relaxing travel rules to accommodate international students from south of the border who will be attending first-year university in Canada. The new guidelines state a U.S. international student may no longer need a study permit issued on or before March 18 — the day the border was closed. An earlier iteration of the rules would have made it impossible for first-year students to cross into Canada to study, while later-years students, with pre-existing study permits, would have been able to cross easily. Citizenship, Refugees and Immigration Canada says border officers will now accept a “port of entry letter of introduction” showing the student was approved for a study permit, in lieu of a pre-March 18 permit.
QUOTE, UNQUOTE
“I’m going to be honest with you: I’m scared.”
— Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez, reacting to news of an outbreak of COVID-19 among Miami Marlins players and staff
LOCAL NEWS
NATIONAL NEWS
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