York Factory First Nation (YFFN) said Oct. 7 that all the members of a family in York Landing who contracted COVID-19 after one of them went to Winnipeg for a medical appointment are now considered recovered.
The cases were still listed as active on the provincial government’s COVID-19 website, which updates statistics daily, on Oct. 8.
YFFN members who were in close contact with members of the family that tested positive have been tested and all tests that were analyzed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory have come back negative. Eleven people’s tests were cancelled due to leakage but YFFN said some have opted to be retested while others are choosing to voluntarily self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate for 14 days instead.
The 14-day self-isolation for most close contacts of the people who tested positive ends today and no one from that list of close contacts has called in with symptoms, though some have been instructed to self-isolate longer. The family that tested positive has completed the required self-isolation period but plans to stay home for another week.
A lockdown continues in York Landing, with all residents instructed to stay home as much as possible. Masks are mandatory in public places and people are required to maintain social distancing of two metres from people outside their household. Only one person per household is allowed to go out to pick up essentials. All social gathering remain forbidden and visitors, apart from essential workers may not enter the community.
The ferry to York Landing began operating again Oct. 8 for people who have been stranded away from home, either in our outside of York Landing, and regular service will begin Oct. 9 and continue until Oct. 23 for essential travel only.
Essential travel to Thompson is allowed and people who return in three days or less do not have to self-isolate but should limit contact with other people after returning and monitor themselves for symptoms and notify the nursing station if any develop. People who are out of the community for more than three days must self-isolate at the community’s hotel or in their home with their entire household for 14 days upon returning.
Travel to Winnipeg is limited to urgent medical appointments only and anyone returning from Winnipeg must self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days. if they choose to self-isolate at home, all other members of the household must self-isolate as well.
