Nickel Belt News Volume 60 • Issue 46
Friday, November 13, 2020
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
41 new cases of COVID-19 reported in north Nov. 10
BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Northern Manitoba reported 33 new cases of COVID-19 Nov. 11, less than 12 hours before the entire province moved to the critical level on the Pandemic Response System effective Nov. 12. There have now been 445 cases of COVID-19 in the north since the pandemic began in March. There were 290 active cases as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The second death of a northern resident from COVID-19 was also reported Nov. 11 – a female in her 60s from The Pas/Opaskwayak Cree Nation/Kelsey health district. That was one of nine deaths announced Wednesday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 123. Most of the new northern cases announced by the province Nov. 11 were in The Pas/Opaskwayak Cree Nation/Kelsey health district, where there were 18 new cases, bringing the total to 151 active cases and 201 overall. The Cross Lake/Pimicikamak Cree Nation health district had four new cases Nov. 11, though the number of active cases dropped to 69. New cases were also reported among residents of the Grand Rapids/Mosakahiken/Moose Lake/Easterville/Chemawawin health district, which now has 18 active cases, the Norway House health district and the Sayisi Dene/Tadoule/Barren Lands/Brochet/Northlands/ Lac Brochet health district, which now has three active cases. Cases are identified by
the home addresses on the health cards of people who test positive, though some may not currently be living in that health district. Thirteen northern residents were in hospital due to COVID-19 Nov. 11, one of them in intensive care. Another 32 northern residents were isolating in alternative isolation units throughout the region as of Nov. 10, said Manitoba chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa. The province is increasing the number of intensive care beds available as demand dictates and also increasing the number of medical beds in all regions by converting some beds intended for surgical patients to medical beds. As a result, 449 non-urgent and elective surgeries have al-
ready been postponed and further slowdowns of such surgeries through the province are being considered. Siragusa also reported Nov. 9 that there were 44 positive tests among Manitoba health care workers, including one case in the NRHA. The province has also seen the first death of a health care worker from COVID-19 in Winnipeg. The latest figures from Manitoba Hydro, reported at noon Nov. 10, showed 24 confirmed positive cases among workers at the Keeyask generating station construction site near Split Lake and Gillam, while another eight workers received “not clear” results on their initial tests and tested negative on retests
but continue to self-isolate out of an abundance of caution. There were 29 Keeyask workers isolating on site as of Tuesday. An outbreak was declared at Keeyask Nov. 3. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), which represents 26 Northern Manitoba First Nations, including Keeyask partners Tataskweyak Cree Nation, York Factory First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation and War Lake First Nation, wrote to Premier Brian Pallister Nov. 2 requesting an immediate meeting after meeting with Manitoba Hydro and public health officials earlier in the day. “The province must recognize that there is an uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at Keeyask,”
said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee in a Nov. 2 news release. “Failing to address this situation in an urgent manner will have dire consequences for the entire province. Action is needed immediately to protect the health of all Manitoba residents.” York Factory First Nation Chief Leroy Constant said on Facebook Nov. 2 that the Keeyask partner First Nations were working with the federal government’s First Nation and Inuit Health Branch to find possible isolation sites if members of the First Nations are unable to isolate themselves in their own homes. “We have asked Manitoba Hydro to shut down the camp until the virus has been contained,” Constant
wrote. A woman in her 40s from the Island Lake region whose death was announced by the provincial government Nov. 6 is the first resident of the Northern Regional Health Authority area to die as a result of COVID-19. Churchill-Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton sent a letter to Manitoba chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin that day asking him to consider increasing public health restrictions in the north. “I am hearing from many communities that there is the real potential for a major outbreak in Northern Manitoba,”Ashton wrote. “We have already seen a number of community outbreaks and there is very real concern that this could spread to other communities very rapidly. I would specifically request consideration be given to designating Northern Manitoba as a red zone with additional consideration put in place to restrict travel between communities in Northern Manitoba to essential purposes only, as evidence shows needs for restrictions. Northern Manitoba requires immediate and decisive action. We cannot sit by as COVID-19 spreads here. We need clear action reflecting the increasingly urgent situation we are facing.” Across the province, there were 431 new cases of COVID-19 reported Nov. 11. There were 218 Manitobans in hospital due to COVID-19, 32 of them in intensive care. The current test positivity rate for the province is 10.7 per cent.
Manitoba ordered many businesses to close Nov. 12 as province moved to critical level on Pandemic Response System BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONICITIZEN.NET
The Manitoba government announced Nov. 10 that the entire province will be moving to the red or critical level on the province’s Pandemic Response System effective 12:01 a.m. Nov. 12. All social gatherings will be forbidden under the new restrictions and critical retail businesses such as pharmacies and groceries stores
will be allowed to continue operating at 25 per cent capacity. All other stores will be limited to providing online sales and curbside service or delivery. Restaurants will be limited to providing take-out and delivery services. Gyms, fitness centres, recreational activities and sports facilities must shut down. Religious gatherings will also be prohibited and casinos, libraries, museums, galleries, concert halls, hair sal-
ons, barbers and businesses providing personal esthetic services such as manicures must shut down. Schools and child care centres will remain open, said chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin at a Nov. 10 news conference. "Keeping schools and child care centres open is important for our children,” he said. “We’re not seeing widespread transmission of
the virus at schools.” Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister also announced new support programs for small businesses, including a bridge financing program that will provide up to $5,000 this year and possibly an additional $5,000 in early 2021. The province’s wage subsidy program to support businesses that rehire staff will also be changed so that proof of having spent the funds will not be required
before funding is advanced. Small businesses who received $6,000 conditional loans through the province’s gap funding program will not have to pay it back, Pallister said. “It’s clear that further action is needed and this action is needed now to protect Manitobans,” said Roussin. “We need to turn these [COVID-19 case] numbers around and we need to turn them around
now. We are truly at a crossroads in our fight against this pandemic.” Pallister said 100 per cent of Manitobans need to get on board with restrictions and abide by them to help flatten the COVID-19 curve again. “These measures today are not easy measures to announce and they’re not easy for you to enact,” the premier said. “The next few weeks are not going to be easy.”