Northern Manitoba accounts for highest proportion of active COVID-19 cases in province
New COVID-19 infections are rising in Manitoba’s north, with the Northern Health Region now accounting for the highest proportion of active COVID-19 cases in the province.
Right now, there are 963 active cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, with 38 per cent of all active cases within the Northern Health Region, even as the region’s vaccine uptake is above 84 per cent.
In comparison, 22 per cent of active cases are in the Southern Health Region and 19 per cent are from the Winnipeg Health Region.
The rate of new COVID-19 infections in the Northern Health Region has been rising and one community is experiencing its first outbreak of the virus.
On Thursday, community leaders in Norway House Cree Nation, currently dealing with 84 active COVID-19 cases in a population of about 8,000, said the recent surge of new cases were due to community spread that originated from outside the community.
Lack of housing infrastructure in the community and access to health services helped the virus spread quickly.
“Overcrowded homes, lack of proper heat and ventilation, inadequate washrooms and healthy space for families are contributing to the pandemic emergency,” said Norway House Cree Nation Chief Larson Anderson in a statement.
Epidemiologist Cynthia Carr, who has worked with a number of northern remote communities, said these are problems seen across the region and are likely contributing to the recent spike in cases.
“It’s very difficult when you’re in a more isolated or remote community to have enough staffing capacity to help with healthcare emergencies,” said Carr.
Carr adds that a lack of adequate housing, forcing community members to live in close quarters with no space to self-isolate if infectious, is likely exacerbating the problem.
“Infrastructure is key,” said Carr. “When you’re in an overcrowded house, there’s just nowhere to go.”
The province is aware of the rising case count in the north and officials said Friday that action is being considered.
“We’re looking at the numbers,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon. “We have… recently approved dose three for First Nations personal care homes. We’re looking at possibly broadening that but no final decision has been made yet.”
Rising COVID-19 infections within First Nation communities isn’t an issue isolated in the north.
According to figures provided on Thursday during the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs weekly COVID-19 update, 54 per cent of all active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba are among First Nation community members across all health regions.
Dr. Marcia Anderson, public health lead with the Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response Team, said vaccine hesitancy and a large number of First Nation youth that are ineligible for inoculation are contributing to rising case rates.
Community spread is also a major factor, she said.
“We continue to see more spread related to gatherings, particularly indoor gatherings, where we hear afterwards people aren’t masking or there were lots of people there,” Anderson said Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.