Northern Manitoba is now in the midst of its biggest spike in COVID-19 cases yet.
Seven new cases of the disease within the Northern Health Region (NHR) were announced by the province Sept. 28, all confirmed by band officials to be on York Factory First Nation (YFFN).
The cases are each located in the Shamattawa/York Factory/Tataskweyak/Split Lake district.
According to a statement from YFFN chief Leroy Constant and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the seven cases are all located in York Landing and are all within the same family. A member of the family was exposed to the disease while in Winnipeg for medical care, then returned home.
The initial exposure was first reported by YFFN Sept. 23. The community then went into a preemptive lockdown while other family members of the original person were tested.
“The household has been in school and around the community,” reads the statement from Chief Constant.
The province did not report any possible exposure sites or specific areas of concern within the north.
The community’s band office, restaurant, school, day care, store and other public buildings were all closed and deep cleaning was done at all locations. Band leaders are working to get more nurses brought to the community’s nursing station, with health guidelines including hand washing and sanitizing, social distancing and avoiding all contact with other households now in effect.
The band office remains closed as of Sept. 28 and while the community’s store has been reopened, a limit of one person at a time allowed inside and mandatory mask use are in effect.
The ferry that brings people both into and out of the community was stopped and people have been asked to not enter or leave the community by boat or plane. Band constables were tasked with monitoring all travel in and out of the community.
“We will continue to do our best, day to day as we are faced with this pandemic,” said Chief Constant in a Facebook post.
“I would like to send well wishes to the family that just received the news. Keep them in your prayers. Be kind to one another. Remember, we are all in this together. We all have a part to play. There is no “I” in team. All of our staff are working hard to ensure that everyone is looked after. Just listen to the guidelines that we are put in place and we will be just fine.”
News of the new YFFN cases came days after a case was reported in Tataskweyak Creen Nation (TCN), located in the same district as the YFFN cases.
In a statement released late Sept. 24 by TCN Chief Doreen Spence and TCN council, the case in the Shamattawa region was confirmed to be within TCN. The statement said the case in a person who was a close contact to "a known case of COVID-19 outside of our community."
"Public health is in the process of conducting a thorough case tracing and will work with the individual to identify and potential contacts. Our goal is to prevent widespread community transmission and avoid an outbreak," reads the statement.
As of Sept. 28, the provincial government is considering that case as still active.
TCN has announced a series of new rules following the positive test in the community. Non-medical travel to Winnipeg will not be permitted until further notice. Community members will be able to travel to Thompson and back, but non-residents will not be allowed to visit TCN for two weeks. TCN security will search vehicles at a check stop along Highway 280 and a curfew of 8 p.m. has been announced for the next two weeks.
The band has also recommended against having visitors in homes and not holding social gatherings. Schools within TCN will transition to remote learning, while the band's offices will remain open to the public.
Mask use within TCN will be mandatory and business owners have been asked to put in place further safety measures.
"We ask members to refrain from posting concerns or reporting individuals on social media, as it can lead to panic/stress. Tataskweyak pandemic team and the nursing station will work closely with the case and any potential contacts to ensure the safety of our community," reads the TCN statement.
"Stay vigilant, stay safe and be respectful; we as a community will get through this together."
As of Sept. 28, the region had 11 cases considered active according to provincial data. At least one case - that of a person who tested positive linked to the Bay Line health district - is in a person now living in Winnipeg who had outdated health contact information. Two other cases were reported in the Bunibonibee/Oxford House/Manto Sipo/God’s River/God’s Lake health district over the weekend.
