The number of COVID-19 cases in Northern Manitoba continues to rise, with 11 new positive tests announced by the provincial government Oct. 20.
Two of the new cases are in the Thompson/Mystery Lake health district, which currently has nine active cases, while four are in The Pas/Opaskwayak Cree Nation/Kelsey health district. Two new cases were reported among Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation/Nelson House health district residents and one each from the Flin Flon/Snow Lake/Sherridon/Cranberry, Bunibonibee Cree Nation/Oxford House and Lynn/Marcel Colomb First Nation/Leaf/O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation/South Indian Lake/Granville health districts.
Forty-two cases of COVID-19 are considered active in Northern Manitoba, as of Oct. 20. Two people from the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) are in hospital due to the virus.
The NRHA sent letter to parents of Opasquia Elementary School and Scott Bateman School in The Pas advising that people connected to the schools had tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 19 and may have been in the schools while infectious on Oct. 16.
“Close contacts connected to the case have been identified and advised to self-isolate,” said the letter. “Anyone who is a close contact has been contacted directly by public health. The school will remain open to all other students and staff, who can continue to attend school in person.”
Parents of students from the schools who develop new or worsening COVID-19 symptoms are advised to get tested for the virus.
Of the 110 new cases reported in Manitoba Oct. 20, 88 were in Winnipeg. Manitoba currently has 1,746 active cases of COVID-19, with most of those cases reported in Winnipeg - 1,476 in total. The actual number of active cases may be lower because public health officials have not been able to be in touch with all cases to determine if some have recovered.
