Travel into northern Manitoba will be blocked again by the provincial government starting Sept. 3, citing concerns with COVID-19 in southern communities.
In the province's August 31 media briefing, provincial health officials announced the reintroduction of a public health order that restricts travel into northern Manitoba from southern portions of the province.
“With the increased number of cases in southern Manitoba, public health will be re-implementing travel restrictions to northern Manitoba and remote communities, effective Thursday, Sept. 3,” reads the announcement from the province.
“In addition to these restrictions, all Manitobans are asked to respect any restrictions that First Nation communities have in place.”
The restriction has been called due to high numbers of COVID-19 cases in southern Manitoba, centering around Winnipeg, Brandon and other areas in the south. Multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported in care homes and health facilities, as well as a smattering of businesses
Rules under the restriction will be similar to the previous travel restriction, which was in place from April 16 to June 26. Northern residents will be able to travel within the north and will be able to travel south and come back for medical care and other purposes. All non-essential travel into the north will be restricted, but a number of reasons for acceptable travel have been included - people moving to northern Manitoba, people travelling directly to northern campgrounds and lodges, government workers or employees of Crown corporations, owners or operators of businesses, truckers, people accessing medical care and other reasons.
During the August 31 briefing, Manitoba chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said the restrictions would be similar to previous public health orders.
“The public health order is very similar to the last edition of that order, so there are many exemptions, including for people who live in northern Manitoba or who are planning to set up a permanent residence there,” said Roussin.
Further details of the order will be published by the province Sept. 2.
Restrictions imposed by First Nations on First Nation land will remain in place under the order.
“They have their own restrictions and we’re asking all Manitobans to respect that.”
One case of COVID-19 was reported in northern Manitoba Aug. 23 after a person living in the Prairie Mountain Health region drove up to the Gillam/Fox Lake Cree Nation area, was informed they were a close contact of someone with COVID-19, self-isolated and later tested positive. That person, whose positive case is recorded as a case within the Prairie Mountain Health region, drove back south immediately after having testing positive.
The disease then spread to a person living in the area, an unidentified woman in her 70s. That woman is now considered to have recovered from the disease and no further spread has been announced.
Out of the 469 current cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba August 31, all of them are located south of the 53rd parallel.
A pair of groups representing Indigenous communities and northern First Nations, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), called for restrictions on northern travel to be put back into effect August 22.
