COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Information

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JULY 10 MB First Nations COVID-19 Update

LATEST PRCT RESOURCES

MB FN PRCT BACKGROUNDER

TEMPLATES & RESOURCES TO HELP FIRST NATIONS GET REIMBURSED FOR COVID-19 EXPENSES

MB FN PRCT BULLETIN JULY 10, 2020

Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Team 

PRCT BULLETIN

July 10th, 2020

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As of Tuesday, July 7th at 7:00 am, the Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Team (PRTC) advised that:

Since our last report on July 7th, 2020, the total number of First Nations COVID-19 cases remains at 16 cases. The number of active cases remains at 0.

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Details of the 16 cases:

• 14 people in Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA)

• 1 person in the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA)

• 1 person in the Southern Health-Santé Sud (SHSS)

• The number of recovered cases is 16

• The number of currently hospitalized cases is 0

• The number of deaths among First Nations people due to COVID-19 is 0.

• 13 female and 3 male

• The age range of positive people: 1-69

• Most people in the 20-29 age group (same as rest of MB)

• Travel-acquired cases: 27% (in comparison to 24% for other Manitobans)

• Acquisition through contact with a known positive case: 73% (in comparison to 56% for other Manitobans)

• Average time from symptom onset until testing: 6 days (same as the rest of MB)

• 43% of cases reported the presence of an underlying illness. (same as the rest of MB)

First Nation Testing

As of July 7th, 2020, the number of First Nations COVID-19 tests has risen by 1151, for a total of 7982 tests were conducted for First Nations across Manitoba since the pandemic began. For First Nations the average test number per person tested is 1.1, which is the same as overall testing rates in Manitoba, at 1.1 tests/person.

The total number of tests in First Nations represents 12% of the overall tests done in Manitoba; testing numbers are highest in hospital, particularly in Winnipeg; the main sources of test samples excluding Winnipeg were from nursing stations.

• Asymptomatic surveillance has yet to identify any First Nations cases.

• Except in the very young, testing rates are higher in women, 59% overall. This mirrors the provincial testing trends where there is also more women who are being tested at 57%.

• A total of 7982 First Nations people have been tested to date. Of those, 51% of tests were completed for First Nations who live on reserve and 49% of tests were completed for First Nations who live in urban or rural areas.

• Among status First Nations, 182 people were flagged as experiencing homelessness, representing 2.5% of all First Nations who were tested and 41% of all people who were experiencing homelessness at the time of their test.

Unlike the majority of cases in Manitoba, First Nations people are most likely to be infected through close contact to a known case of COVID-19.

First Nation Contacts

• 56 Status First Nations have been named as contacts over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

• 75% of COVID-19 infections were a result of close contact to a positive COVID-19 case

• Of the 16 First Nation cases, 7 cases can be linked to clusters or outbreaks

As Manitoba continues to review and change public health measures, the PRCT encourages people to continue to be diligent about following the effective public health measures to keep the spread low and minimize the risks.

Phase 3 of Manitoba’s Restart Strategy started on June 21, 2020. Some of the key changes included in Phase 3 include: increasing indoor gathering sizes to 50 and outdoor gathering sizes to 100; the possibility of larger gathering if people can be divided into subgroups; removal of the public health order for self-isolation for people entering MB from Northwestern Ontario, Western provinces, and the Territories; opening of restaurants and patios to full capacity if physical distancing between tables can be maintained; and, opening of non-smoking indoor recreation spaces like VLT lounges or bingo halls.  As Phase 3 continues, it remains important to follow public health measures, including:

• Practice frequent hand hygiene;

• Follow physical distancing measures when outside of your home;

• Follow gathering size orders;

• Stay home if you have any symptoms, even mild symptoms, that could be from COVID-19;

• Get tested within 1-2 days if you develop symptoms.

The full details of Phase 3 are available at: .  

The PRTC finalized a document called, “Applying Current Public Health Orders and Guidance to Community Events” that outlined guidelines for First Nations to consider in hosting events and gatherings, this document included implications of the Restart Strategy for Manitoba First Nation planning strategies to consider for gatherings in ways that follow public health orders and guidance.  You can access this document online at . This document as well as the previous guidance on Ceremonial and Spiritual Practices will be updated to reflect the changes in Manitoba’s public health guidance.

You can access testing by calling the health facility in your community, going to the RHA testing site closest to you, calling your health care provider, or use the Screening Tool available here to find out when/ where you can be tested.

Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at: .

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Please visit any of the following websites for more information and resources on COVID-19:

www.manitobachiefs.com
www.scoinc.mb.ca
www.mkonation.com
www.fnhssm.com
https://manitoba.ca/covid19/
https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1581964230816/1581964277298

COVID-19 Information and Resources for First Nations Leaders, Communities, Health Teams and Citizens

Funding Resources for First Nations

Cleaning, Disinfecting and Masks

Audio Resources

Long-term Personal Care Homes 

COVID-19 Guidance for long term care homes facilities and nursing homes in Indigenous communities

World Health Organization: Infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19

COVID-19: Interim guidance for long term care homes

CDC: Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes

Video: Indigenous Services Canada COVID-19 Update 13Mar2020

Indigenous Community Support Fund

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. This plan includes $305 million for a new, distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. This funding will also provide support to regional, urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations.

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These new funds will flow directly to Indigenous communities and groups across the country and will provide Indigenous leadership with the flexibility needed as they prepare for and react to the spread of COVID-19. These funds could be used for measures including, but not limited to:

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• support for Elders and vulnerable community members

• measures to address food insecurity

• educational and other support for children

• mental health assistance and emergency response services

• preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19

As shown in the map, the Indigenous Community Support Fund will be distributed as follows:

• $215 million for First Nations: allocated to each First Nation based on population, remoteness and community well-being

• $45 million for Inuit, which will flow to each of the four land claims organizations through an allocation determined by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and regional Inuit land claims organizations

• $30 million for Métis Nation communities, which will flow through each of the Governing Members

• $15 million for regional and urban Indigenous organizations supporting their members living away from their communities, and to regional organizations such as Friendship Centres and the Métis Settlements General Council of Alberta

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Regionally:

Manitoba First Nations will receive $35,974,000