Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 24, 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A3 Sport Jackets $150 & $195 Suits $245 & $345 Sport Shirts $35 & $55 Knits $45 & $65 Pants/ Jeans $55 & $65 & $95 Alterations Extra. All Sales Final. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-3pm (or by appointment) 215 Stafford St (204)475-0063 INVENTORY CLOSEOUT F E A T U R I N G S T A R T S T O D A Y COVID-19 PANDEMIC ASSOCIATE EDITOR NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM A3 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2022 COVID-19AT A GLANCE Cases: MANITOBA Confirmed: 129,657 Resolved: 115,445 Deaths: 1,663 Active: 12,549 (As of 12:30 p.m.Wednesday) CANADA Confirmed: 3,255,058 Resolved: 3,095,710 Deaths: 36,161 Active: 123,187 (As of 9 a.m. Wednesday) The latest fromManitoba: ● Provincial health officials announced three pandemic deaths and another drop in hospitalizations Wednesday. Manitoba’s COVID-19 death toll is now 1,663. According to the government’s pandemic dashboard, 543 people with COVID-19 were in hospital Wednesday, 29 of whom were in intensive care. That represents a decrease of 10 COVID-related hospitalizations over the past 24 hours. There were 369 new cases of COVID-19 confirmedWed- nesday through PCR testing. The five-day test positivity rate provincewide is 14.8 per cent. Vaccine eligibility: ● First- and second-dose vaccinations are available for all Manitobans over five years of age. Third dose shots are now available to all Manitoba adults. Check eligibility criteria and recommended time frames between doses at wfp.to/eligibility. Appointments can be booked online at wfp.to/bookvaccine or by calling 1-844-626-8222. The latest from elsewhere: ● The Canadian government has signed an agree- ment with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive 100,000 doses of a COVID-19 antibody therapy currently under review by Health Canada. The antibody therapy, called Evusheld, is a pre-exposure preventative treatment for COVID-19. Health Canada is reviewing it for use in specific high-risk patient populations, such as immunocompromised people. Public Services and Procurement Canada says initial deliveries would be expected within a month of authorization. ● A dozen U.S. Air Force officers are suing the U.S. government after the military denied their religious exemption to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine. The officers, along with a handful of airmen and reservists, accused the air force of using a double standard when approving requests. According to the lawsuit, the air force has allowed more than 3,000 medical or adminis- trative exemptions, but only nine religious exemptions. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and military leaders have said the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. Members of Congress, the military and the public have questioned whether the exemption reviews have been fair. At least 97 per cent of the troops in each service have received at least one shot, while those who refuse can face discipline up to being discharged. ● The Czech government agreed Wednesday to further ease COVID-19 restrictions as a wave of infections related to the Omicron variant has receded. Health Minister Vlastimil Valek said all limits on the number of people attending any public gatherings will be lifted March 1. Mandatory testing of health-care workers and staffers at nursing homes will end March 13. That same day, masks will remain mandatory on public transport and at hospitals, outpatient clinics and nursing homes only. Quote: “I think a lot of people just kind of rolled the dice and decided, ‘Well, if it’s not that bad, I’m just going to kind of wait it out and see what happens.’” —Kathy Emmons, executive director, Cheyenne- Laramie County Health Department inWyoming, on a decline in people showing up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine INSPECTOR ● FROMA1 Someone took a swing at an in- spector enforcing COVID-19 rules in Winkler, she said. That city has had some of the fiercest opposition to restrictions. “There have been angry members of the public who have resorted to pushing and shoving. We’ve had a lot of situations where we’ve had to de-es- calate, or situations where we haven’t been able to de-escalate and have had to leave,” the inspector said. Police are asked to join them on assignments considered potentially dangerous. One such occasion was a visit to a Steinbach-area church to check if it was complying with limits on public gatherings. Church members slammed their hands against a vehicle, yelled at in- spectors and put cellphone cameras in their faces, the inspector said. When cameras come out, video clips or photos usually end up on social media. Inspectors have been locked out of businesses by owners who refuse to comply with rules. Their names and work phone numbers and addresses have been posted on social media by those who oppose the restrictions. “Some of them were blatant threats,” the inspector said. Some are so worried about their safety they’ve gone to “extreme” lengths to protect themselves and their families. This includes no longer driving their own vehicles to inspections considered high risk. Some have changed the address on their personal vehicle’s registration because they’re worried about being tracked. The “toxic” environment has led some to find jobs in other jurisdic- tions or other work, the inspector said. While trouble has occurred all over the province, those who work in parts of the Southern Health region have faced more resistance than colleagues elsewhere in Manitoba, the inspector said. “They face issues on a regular basis, if not a daily basis. These areas are constantly showing issues with com- pliance,” she said. “We have resorted to often having police attend with inspectors because situations become dangerous.” The job has never been this de- manding or heavy on enforcement, she said. The inspector felt a sense of relief when Premier Heather Stefanson announced all restrictions, including face masks and proof-of-vaccination requirements, will end March 15. With no pandemic rules to en- force, it means the inspector and her colleagues likely won’t face as much abuse. “It’s a relief to not have to wonder if today I’m going to have a camera in my face or have someone yell at me,” the inspector said. “I get to go back to being a health inspector and doing the work I enjoy.” COVID-19 still poses a threat, she pointed out. Since April 9, 2020, a total of 2,586 tickets have been handed out for public health order violations. They amount to more than $3.5 million in fines, according to the province’s online enforcement dashboard. As their workmoves away from COVID-19, inspectors will have to tack- le a backlog of inspections put on the “backburner” during the pandemic. Amid a number of vacancies, some districts do not have a public health inspector, she said, adding low pay has made it tougher to recruit and retain staff. Manitoba offers one of the lowest annual salaries in Canada, starting at $50,744 and topping out at $67,671, according to industry data. Inspectors in Saskatchewan are paid between $77,868 and $94,736, while those in Alberta earn $85,426 to $126,510. “Prior to COVID, (inspectors) were there to make sure our restaurants were serving us safe food and the water we swam in at public pools was safe,” said Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union. “When COVID hit, they were called upon to take on even more work, helping to enforce public health orders. They did this, and continue to do this, with mounting workloads and staff shortages. “As we reopen, we need the govern- ment to address these issues and make the much-needed investments to help these inspectors do their jobs and keep Manitobans safe.” The province did not provide com- ment by press time. chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @chriskitching S O-CALLED “freedom convoy” pro-testers have moved their occupa-tion to nearbyMemorial Park, after Winnipeg police set a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline to clear streets across from the Manitoba Legislative Building. City police ordered anti-COVID-19 mandate demonstrators to move their vehicles, trailers and structures from Broadway and Memorial Boulevard, with warnings of possible arrests and charges if they did not comply. By 5 p.m., Memorial and Broadway were clear of the big-rig cabs and farm equipment that had lined the streets for three weeks. The adjacent park had been cleared of snow with a skid-steer loader, and a large pile of firewood was placed near chairs and burn barrels. A rally co-or- ganizer said there are plans to erect a teepee for demonstrators’ use. A singlemotor home remained onMe- morial Boulevard, along with a pickup truck hauling a flatbed trailer. Demonstrators have occupied the area since Feb. 4, while calling for an end to novel coronavirus pandemic re- strictions and mandates imposed by the federal and provincial governments. Provincial restrictions are being lifted next month. Ottawa has not budged on a regulation requiring Ca- nadian truckers arriving from the U.S. to be fully vaccinated to avoid a 14-day quarantine. The U.S. requires all non-Americans entering at land or ferry ports to be fully vaccinated and show proof. A few police squad cars and un- marked vehicles were on scene at 5 p.m., including one blocking the north- bound lane of Memorial at Broadway. The remaining protesters, around two dozen, stood on sidewalks near Broadway and on the median, waving anti-mandate signs. A small group of counter-protesters waved signs back. At a news conference Wednesday morning, Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Rob Carver said protesters agreed to move vehicles and trailers when they realized they would not be able to achieve all of their goals. Throughout those discussions, both sides came to the conclusion “the end of this was approaching,” said Carver, who said he was not aware of any dem- onstrators being charged. Carver said he did not foresee a situ- ation like that in Ottawa last weekend, when protesters and police clashed near Parliament Hill. TheWinnipeg protest has been peace- ful and hasn’t been as disruptive to the public, the constable said, adding police want to minimize use of force or any- thing considered “heavy-handed.” If any vehicles or trailers remained after 5 p.m., Carver suggested police would have allowed a grace period, if they were in the process of being re- moved. Anti-mandate demonstration co-or- ganizer Caleb Brown said the plan is to stay in the downtown park indefinitely. “(WPS) decided the time for us to be on Memorial (Boulevard) was over,” Brown said by phone. “We didn’t think it would serve anyone’s purpose to fight against that —we’re trying to be peace- ful and lawful, so it was time for the trucks to go.” Memorial Park is on provincial land. In response to a media question about whether the protesters would be com- plying with police orders in taking over the spot, Carver said the WPS will con- tinue to monitor the situation. “I think we’ll have to look at it as it unfolds,” he said. Carver suggested the group will be allowed to continue its protest inMemo- rial Park if it does not cause disruption or break laws. He acknowledged some downtown residents haven’t been happy with the protesters’ presence and traffic and noise disruption or with the police ser- vice’s approach. The group had said it would not leave unless Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to meet. It had also requested a meeting with Manitoba Premier Heath- er Stefanson. Police officers handed out letters to protesters Tuesday to inform them of the deadline. “Over the last three weeks, the Win- nipeg Police Service has worked to balance your right to protest while pro- tecting the rights of residents affected by protest activity,” the letter stated. “Your ongoing presence and blocking of streets is interfering with the lawful use and enjoyment of personal and pub- lic property.” Police warned protesters they could be charged with mischief, intimidation or other offences under the Criminal Code, and their vehicles could be seized and become subject to an application by the Crown for forfeiture, if they failed to comply. Highway Traffic Act charges of ob- structing police and failing to obey the instructions of a peace officer could also be considered, along with bylaw of- fences, including excessive noise. chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Protesters take down barricades CHRIS KITCHING AND ERIK PINDERA Small group to stay in Memorial Park MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS They arrived on Feb. 4 and dug in for the long haul. OnWednesday, after police warned protesters they could face charges, they hit the road. A_03_Feb-24-22_FP_01.indd 3 2022-02-23 9:43 PM ;