Second northern Manitoba First Nation reports case of COVID-19

Tataskweyak Cree Nation is under a lockdown after a member tested positive for COVID-19 last week. 

A notice sent to community members last Thursday, Sept. 24, says the individual was a close contact of another positive case from outside the community. 

As a result, the Manitoba First Nation, located about 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg, has issued a ban on trips to Winnipeg for its members, except for medical reasons, and non-residents are not allowed in the community for two weeks. The notice doesn't say whether exceptions will be made for essential workers. 

The community is also shifting to remote learning for students until further notice and has implemented an 8 p.m. curfew. 

At least five Manitoba First Nations have now reported positive cases of COVID-19 in their communities. 

Last week, a family of seven from York Factory First Nation in northern Manitoba tested positive for COVID-19 following a trip to Winnipeg. The family went through rapid testing last Thursday and the results were confirmed at Cadham Provincial Lab on Sunday.

The community has been locked down ever since, meaning some council members couldn't even get home in time. 

More nurses, contact tracing team brought in

So far, a contact tracing investigation has identified as many as 100 close contacts of the family who tested positive, in a community that only has about 500 people, said Louisa Constant, a council member in York Factory First Nation. 

The remote location of the First Nation created other logistical challenges. 

Constant said they initially didn't have enough nurses, so they've brought in two additional nurses as well as a contact tracing team to help prevent an outbreak. They've also requested a rapid response team from Health Canada to come in, who are expected to arrive in the next couple of days, Constant said. 

But because there are only a few flights available into the community each week, it's been difficult to get people there quickly, she said. 

The availability of tests is also presenting a challenge, Constant said.

Right now, the community only has a few dozen rapid COVID-19 testing kits available. They've ordered more from the Cadham Provincial Laboratory which should be arriving soon, she said.