Northern
On this page:
- Provincial Restrictions
- COVID-19 Cases in Northern
- Additional Restrictions
- Possible public exposures to COVID-19
- Additional Resources
Provincial Response Level: CRITICAL
Community spread of COVID-19 is not contained and there are significant strains on our health care system. On Thurday, November 12, the province of Manitoba moved to the Critical level (red) on the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System to halt COVID-19 transmission and protect Manitoba's most vulnerable citizens.
Public Health Orders have been extended to Friday, January 22 at 11:59 p.m. and will continue to restrict gatherings at private residences and allow critical retailers to only sell essential items.
The new orders will be in effect province-wide and include:
- A person who resides in a private residence must not permit a person who does not reside in that residence to enter the property or residence. There are some exceptions for those who live alone and for childcare, healthcare, property maintenance and emergencies.
- Gatherings in indoor or outdoor public places are limited to five persons for some specific purposes like weddings, funerals and physically distanced outdoor activities. The fundamentals should still be practiced in these situations, including mask wearing and frequent handwashing.
- Retail businesses must sell only essential items, ensure compliance with capacity limits and implement measures to ensure physical distancing.
- Retailers can continue to sell essential or non-essential items online, by telephone or by remote means for delivery or pick-up.
- Travel to and from northern Manitoba is restricted and non-essential travel is discouraged.
- Other critical services can operate as set out under the public health orders.
- All personal service businesses, including hair salons, barbers and sites offering manicures, pedicures and other esthetic services, must close.
- Gyms and fitness centres must close.
- Religious and cultural gatherings must close or be provided virtually.
- Drive-in events are restricted to household members only, and people must stay in their vehicle.
- Restaurants must close to the public and may be open for delivery, drive-thru or takeout only.
- All recreational activities, sports facilities, casinos, museums, galleries, libraries, movie theatres and concert halls must close.
For more information, see Additional guidance at the Critical Level or visit the State of Emergency and Current Public Health Orders page.
January 8, 2021 - COVID-19 Prevention Orders at the Critical Level (pdf)
COVID-19 Cases in Northern
Map of COVID-19 Cases and Risks for All of Manitoba
Additional Restrictions
Northern Spirit Manor, Thompson: CRITICAL
Outbreak declared. Restrictions in place.
St. Paul's Residence (Personal Care Home), The Pas: CRITICAL
Outbreak declared. Restrictions in place.
Additional information on travel restrictions to northern Manitoba and remote communities
- With the increased number of cases in southern Manitoba, public health is re-implementing travel restrictions to Northern Manitoba and remote communities, effective Friday, Sept. 4, 2020.
-
The public health order includes exemptions for the following people, if they have no symptoms of COVID-19:
- people who live in or a person permanently moving to Northern Manitoba or a remote community;
- people who work for the federal or provincial governments, a Crown corporation, other government agencies or a child and family services agency;
- health providers travelling to provide health care services or people travelling for emergency medical purposes;
- educational professionals, including teachers or professors, and students travelling to work at/attend schools or post-secondary institutions;
- people who own, operate or work for a business and are travelling to deliver goods, provide services or operate the business;
- travel for trials/judicial proceedings; and
- travel for parenting arrangements.
- In addition, people can travel to and from to a cottage, cabin, provincial park, campground or hunting/fishing lodge in Northern Manitoba if they have no symptoms of COVID-19. They must limit the use of local services while travelling to and staying at their final destination. They must travel there as directly as possible based on the means of transportation used. This means that if they plan to drive there, they must drive directly there. However, for more remote locations, they may drive or fly to a northern city to be transported to their final destination.
- People can also travel to Churchill and the surrounding area if they have no symptoms of COVID-19 and limit the use of local services while they are travelling there. They must travel there as directly as possible. This means they may fly directly to Churchill, or drive or fly to another northern city and then be transported to Churchill by train.
- Visitors to Manitoba who must self-isolate for 14 days must not travel to Northern Manitoba or a remote community until they are done self-isolating in southern Manitoba.
- People travelling to Northern Manitoba on a public vehicle (such as a bus, train or plane) must wear a mask that covers their mouth, nose and chin. For a list of exceptions, view the orders.
- In addition to the orders, all travellers are asked to respect any restrictions that First Nation communities have in place, as these communities are working with the advice of public health officials to ensure the health and safety of their residents.
- For detailed information, view the orders.
Possible public exposures to COVID-19 in Northern
| Town/Municipality | Location | Dates/Times |
| Flin Flon | Flin Flon General Hospital Emergency Department Waiting Room |
December 20 - 6:41 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. December 22 - 6:51 p.m. to 7:51 p.m. December 23 - 3:33-a.m. to 4:06 a.m. |
|
Thompson |
R.D. Parker Collegiate (272 Thompson Dr. N., Thompson) |
December 14 and 15, 2020 |
|
Thompson |
UCN College of Trades and Technology (55 UCN Drive, Thompson) |
December 14, 2020 |
|
Thompson |
Westwood Elementary School (46 Mallard Crescent, Thompson) |
December 9, 10 and 11, 2020 |
|
The Pas |
MBCI School, The Pas |
November 30 to December 3, 2020 |
| Shamattawa Cree Nation | Shamattawa Northern Store (Shamattawa Cree Nation) |
November 26 to December 1, 2020 Two confirmed cases of COVID-19 were in the Northern Store on Nov. 26 to Dec 1 when they may have been infectious. Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low risk overall for the community. Any individuals who attended are asked to self-monitor for symptoms, and if they develop symptoms are advised to self-isolate (quarantine) and call the Health Centre. |
| Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Pelican Rapids | Sapotaweyak Health Centre (Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Pelican Rapids) |
November 23, 24 and 25, 2020 Two confirmed cases of COVID-19 were in the Health Centre on Nov. 23, 24 and 25 when they may have been infectious. Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low risk overall for the community. Any individuals who attended are asked to self-monitor for symptoms. |
|
The Pas |
École Opasquia School (27-8th St., The Pas) |
November 23, 2020 |
|
The Pas |
Kelsey Community School (322 Edwards Ave., The Pas) |
November 23 and 26, 2020 |
|
Thompson |
Thompson General Hospital Diagnostics/Lab waiting room (871 Thompson Drive S., Thompson) |
November 25, 2020 - 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. |
|
Thompson |
Westwood Elementary School (46 Mallard Crescent Thompson) |
October 29, 2020 |
| The Pas | The New Avenue Hotel (404 Fischer Ave., The Pas) |
October 31, 2020 - 8 p.m. to midnight |
|
The Pas |
Kelsey Community School (120 Stewart St., The Pas) |
October 30, 2020 |
|
The Pas |
Margaret Barbour Collegiate (429 Smith Ave, The Pas) |
October 28 and 30, 2020 |
| Opaskwayak Cree Nation | Funeral - Opaskwayak Cree Nation |
October 24, 2020 Public health officials are advising a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 attended a funeral in Opaskwayak Cree Nation on Oct. 24th when they were in their infectious period. People who attended the funeral should self-isolate and seek testing if symptoms develop. |
| The Pas |
Casual Cuts and Cheryl’z Hair Den (229 Fischer Ave., The Pas) |
October 20, 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| The Pas | Margaret Barbour Collegiate (429 Smith St., The Pas) |
October 16, 2020 |
| Cross Lake | Cross Lake Funeral |
October 18, 2020 |
| The Pas |
New Avenue Hotel Bar (404 Fischer Ave, The Pas) |
October 20, 2020 - 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Lake Manitoba First Nation |
Funeral - Lake Manitoba First Nation |
October 12, 2020 |
| The Pas | Opasquia Elementary School (27-8th St. W., The Pas) |
October 19 and 20, 2020 October 25, 2020 - Letter to Parents/Guardians (pdf) |
| The Pas | Margaret Barbour Collegiate (429 Smith Ave., The Pas) |
October 20, 2020 A confirmed case of COVID-19 attended the school on Oct. 20 when the individual may have been infectious. Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low risk due to the thorough and consistent application of COVID 19 prevention measures. Public health does not consider this infection to be school acquired at the present time. Anyone identified as a close contact will be contacted and provided instructions for self-isolation (quarantine). |
| The Pas | Scott Bateman School (272 Grace Lake Road, The Pas) |
October 15 and 16, 2020 A confirmed case of COVID-19 attended the school on Oct. 15th and 16th, 2020 when the individual may have been infectious. Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low risk due to the thorough and consistent application of COVID-19 prevention measures. Public health does not consider this infection to be school acquired. Close contacts connected to the case have been identified, contacted directly by public health and advised to self-isolate (quarantine). The school will remain open to all other students and staff, who can continue to attend school in person. |
| Norway House |
Funeral in Norway House |
October 20, 2020 |
| The Pas |
Margaret Barbour Collegiate (429 Smith Ave, Opaskwayak) |
October 14 and 16, 2020 |
| Thompson | Deerwood Elementary School (101 Beaver Crescent Thompson) |
October 14 to 16, 2020 A confirmed case of COVID-19 was present on the school on Oct. 14-16 when the individual may have been infectious. Based on the public health investigation, this exposure was assessed to be low risk overall for the school community. Contacts of the case have been identified and advised to self-monitor and self- isolate. The school will remain open to all other students and staff, who can continue to attend school in person. |
| Opaskwayak |
Scotiabank Otineka Mall (Highway 10, Opaskwayak) |
October 13, 14 and 15, 2020 |
| Thompson | R.D. Parker Collegiate (272 Thompson Dr. N., Thompson) |
October 15 and 16, 2020 October 20, 2020 - Letter to Parents/Guardians (pdf) |
| The Pas |
Opasquia Elemental School (17-8th S. West, The Pas) |
October 16, 2020 October 19, 2020 - Letter to Parents/Guardians (pdf) |
| The Pas | Scott Bateman Middle School (272 Grace Lake Road, The Pas) |
October 16, 2020 October 19, 2020 - Letter to Parents/Guardians (pdf) |
| Gillam | Assiniboine Credit Union (335 Railway Ave. W., Gillam) | October 13 to 16, 2020 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day |
| Thompson | Salon Italia (3 Station Road, Thompson) | October 9, 2020 - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Additional Resources
Northern Health Region - Critical Level
