Another case of COVID-19 has been found in northern Manitoba, bringing the region's active case load up to 12.
No health district of origin was listed for the new case, which was one of 34 new cases reported in Manitoba Sept. 29.
Of the 12 active cases listed in the Northern Health Region, eight cases are in the Shamattawa/York Factory/Tataskweyak/Split Lake district - seven on York Factory First Nation (YFFN) and one on Tataskweyak Cree Nation.
Two more cases are reported within the Bunibonibee/Oxford House/Manto Sipi/God's River/God's Lake district, while one other case has been reported within the Bay Line district. The Bay Line case has been previously thought to be an example of an out-of-region case in someone with outdated health information, but the case is still counted in the provincial totals for the region.
YFFN Chief Leroy Constant said in an online statement that the community will manage as best as possible while locking down to prevent further spread of COVID-19, urging people for civility during the situation.
"We will continue to do our best, day-to-day, as we are faced with this pandemic," said Constant.
"It is not the family's fault that the mother had to seek medical attention in Winnipeg... it is not their fault that they came into contact with a positive case. It's not our fault we don't have adequate health care in the north. Our people are forced to seek this urgent medical help. It's a matter of life and death."
Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN) has put in place new measures to keep possible COVID-19 spread out of the community, recommending a 60-day extension of a local state of emergency and restricting tall non-medical or non-emergency travel out of NHCN. No out-of-town visitors will be permitted to enter NHCN.
"The virus is now prevalent in several locations in northern Manitoba. The community must act in a way to prevent COVID-19 from entering the community," reads a notice from NHCN, published Sept. 28.
NHCN is the third northern First Nation, along with YFFN and Tataskweyak, to strengthen existing COVID-19 rules after the spike in northern cases. No cases have been confirmed in either NHCN or the neighbouring Cross Lake Band of Indians.
Twenty-six new cases were reported in Winnipeg Tuesday, with possible exposures listed at IQRA School from Sept. 23-24 and at a Kenaston Boulevard LensCrafters from Sept. 14-18 and Sept. 21-22. Anyone who may have been at these locations during those times is asked to self-monitor for symptoms and get tested if any develop.
