Northern Manitoba has been ordered into a lockdown as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region.
The announcement was made by Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister on Tuesday, as he declared the entire Northern Health Region a critical level red on the province’s pandemic response system.
This lockdown will go into effect on Wednesday, November 11 at 12:01 a.m. and will last for at least two weeks.
According to the province, the decision to implement a lockdown was made in response to the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the region, with a positivity rate of 9.4 per cent and a test positivity rate of 11.3 per cent.
The lockdown will include the communities of Churchill, Gillam, Fox Lake Cree Nation, York Landing, and the entire Northern Health Region.
Under this lockdown, all non-essential travel to and from the region is prohibited, and all non-essential businesses and services must close. Essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations will remain open with reduced capacity.
In addition, all indoor and outdoor gatherings are prohibited, and schools will move to remote learning. Non-essential health services will also be suspended, and elective surgeries will be postponed.
Premier Pallister emphasized the importance of this lockdown in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the region, stating, “We need to take these measures now to protect our most vulnerable citizens and ensure our health-care system can continue to provide care to all Manitobans.”
The province will also be providing additional support to the Northern Health Region, including increased testing capacity and resources for contact tracing.
This lockdown comes as Manitoba continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases, with 270 new cases reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 4,348.
The province is urging all residents to follow public health guidelines, including wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and avoiding non-essential travel.
As the situation in Northern Manitoba continues to evolve, the province will reassess the need for the lockdown and provide updates as necessary.
In the meantime, residents are reminded to stay informed and follow all public health measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
