NHR shrinks to 490 active cases, Pukatawagan continues surge, Manitoba eases some health orders

Northern Manitoba now has 490 listed active cases of COVID-19, the vast majority of which are in three districts - the Cross Lake/Pimicikamak, Island Lake and Pukatawagan/Mathias Colomb districts. These districts, as of March 12, have 143, 125 and 145 active cases respectively. The total of 490 active cases is a dramatic decrease from the 702 northern active cases announced March 11 - the change is due to what the province refers to as "ongoing reviews of active case information", or clearing up delays in listing cases as recovered instead of active. Almost 400 cases across Manitoba were moved to the "recovered" column Friday.

While almost every northern district saw a reduction in active cases due to the data correction, Pukatawagan did not, seeing 25 new cases added to provincial data and having a total of 145 active cases. The community's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has led to Canadian Armed Forces and Red Cross personnel coming to the community to try to stop the disease from spreading further. A total of 160 total cases, including recoveries, have been reported by the Manitoba government in Pukatawagan.

According to the 2016 federal census, 1,724 people call Pukatawagan home. If provincial data released for the community March 12 is accurate, it shows more than nine per cent of the entire community - one out of every 11 people - either has or has had COVID-19.

The Flin Flon district now sits at seven active cases of COVID-19, with three new cases added to provincial data March 12. The Flin Flon and Pukatawagan districts are the only districts in northern Manitoba that saw an increase in active cases Friday - all other regions either saw numbers stand pat or decrease.

No further outbreaks or possible public exposures to COVID-19 have been announced in northern Manitoba March 12. 

Meanwhile, Manitoba announced two changes to provincial health orders March 12. Starting March 13, outdoor dining on patios at restaurants and licensed businesses will be allowed for up to six different people from different households. The second change will see alterations to mask use in churches, where people will be allowed to not wear masks while seated with a group from their household. The new church mask rule will only apply when parishoners are distanced from other groups and not singing. 

Further changes to Manitoba's COVID-19 health orders are anticipated to be announced next week, going into effect March 25. For more detailed information about COVID-19 in northern Manitoba, see the table below.

Saskatchewan is seeing its own COVID-19 issues, reporting 176 new cases province-wide Friday along with a sharp spike in cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of concern in Regina. A total of 70 confirmed cases and 77 presumptive cases of the new, more dangerous variant have been found in the provincial capital.

The Saskatchewan government has advised Reginans to limit travel and shopping to only essential trips, stay home when even mild symptoms develop, to get tested if symptoms arise and to continue distancing, sanitizing and mask use. Households including people over age 50 have also been advised to avoid forming social "bubbles", just days after the province gave the green light for forming 10-person bubbles among people from up to three different households.

No cases of any variants of concern have yet been found In the far north east region, but 10 more cases were announced in the health zone Friday, including five in the far north east 2 health zone that covers Creighton, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay. Most, if not all, of the cases have been reported in Pelican Narrows - as of March 11, the Angelique Canada Health Centre in Pelican Narrows reported 120 active cases of the disease in the community.