After a few days of decline, northern Manitoba COVID-19 cases have taken a jump, thanks to ongoing outbreaks in remote communities.
Of the 292 net new cases announced in Manitoba Thursday, 41 were found in the north, bringing the number of active cases in the Northern Health Region up to 473. Out of those cases, the two largest districts for overall cases are the Shamattawa/York Factory/Tataskweyak/Split Lake and Island Lake districts. The two districts combine for more than half the region's active cases.
Overall active cases in the Shamattawa/York Factory/Tataskweyak/Split Lake district are now at 126, up from 104 according to provincial data released Wednesday. Local and regional leadership have said the number of cases in the community is actually much higher - over 200 active cases.
In response to the situation, the four MLAs serving northern Manitoba, Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) and Shamattawa First Nation Chief Eric Redhead have requested increased support for the community. The requests include evacuating vulnerable Elders from the area to prevent possible deaths, calling on the Canadian Armed Forces to provide personnel and medical help for those who need it and to develop emergency management guidelines for remote First Nations like Shamattawa. Kinew and the four MLAs sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling for help.
"Due to chronic underfunding and limited resources like housing and health care, Shamattawa is at greater risk of COVID-19 threatening the health and wellbeing of community members. We are urging your government to commit to provide the supports necessary to save lives of citizens in the First Nation," reads the letter.
"First Nations leadership in Manitoba is doing everything they can to keep community members safe and we support their efforts."
The Island Lake district, which includes Garden Hill, Red Sucker Lake, Wasagamack, St. Theresa Point and other far north east communities, has also shown a dramatic increase in cases - according to provincial data, the area now has 112 active cases. Cases are also going up in the Bunibonibee/Oxford House/Manto Sipi/Gods River/Gods Lake district, where five more cases were reported Thursday, bringing the district up to 37 active cases.
Following a First Ministers' meeting Dec. 10, the office of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said the Premier discussed the importance of getting vaccines to Indigenous people and remote First Nations with Trudeau.
Elsewhere in the north, other districts are either seeing smaller changes or no change at all. The Flin Flon/Snow Lake/Cranberry Portage district is now down to three active cases, one short of the four reported in the area Wednesday. No new cases were found in the district. The Cross Lake/Pimicikamak district is now down to 15 active cases, while The Pas/OCN/Kelsey has 97 active cases, slowly declining and staying under 100 cases for the second straight day.
Manitoba reported 13 deaths from COVID-19 Thursday, all in southern Manitoba communities. All but two deaths were tied to outbreaks at health facilities and seniors' homes. Since the pandemic began, 451 people have died from COVID-19. There are now 298 Manitobans in hospital with COVID-19, including 43 people in intensive care. Within the north, 18 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, with three people having been moved to ICU.
No new public outbreaks or exposures were announced in the north.
Saskatchewan
More cases were found in Saskatchewan than in Manitoba as the province continues its upward trajectory.
A total of 324 new cases were reported Thursday, along with four deaths. Another 15 cases were reported in the far north east district, pushing the district up to 224 active cases. Most of those cases were found in the far north east 1 zone, which covers La Ronge and other nearby communities. The zone that covers Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay and other area communities - the far north east 2 zone - reported four more active cases, pushing their active level up to 145 active cases.
The Angelique Canada Health Centre in Pelican Narrows has confirmed 98 active cases in the community as of Dec. 9, stating that two people are also hospitalized in the community. The centre has also said a person has died within the community from COVID-19 - no deaths have yet been confirmed in the area by the province.
