Treaty Five Territory, Thompson, MB –

 

The leaders of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Inc. and Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin (KIM) are encouraging Manitoba residents to update the information on their personal Manitoba Health Card if they have moved from their First Nation to urban or rural areas off reserve.

 

“In recent weeks, we had learned of two positive COVID-19 cases linked to Northern Manitoba. We later learned that the two cases were amongst people who live off reserve and outside of the Northern Health Region. This complicated tracking of the virus and had caused fear amongst some people in some communities,” stated Grand Chief Garrison Settee.

 

“First Nations and Northern residents have worked extremely hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Northern Manitoba. I am encouraging all First Nations residents to ensure their health cards are kept up to date to help ensure positive cases of COVID-19 can be properly recorded.”

 

“With rising cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, the ability to track the location of positive cases is essential to ensuring that robust public health measures are in place to respond to the virus,” said Dr. Barry Lavallee, Chief Executive Officer of KIM.

 

“We are now seeing the second wave of the pandemic. I want to encourage all First Nations residents in Manitoba to ensure the information on their health card is current. This will help ensure that First Nations have correct information about the location(s) of positive cases of COVID-19.”

 

Residents can update information for their Manitoba health cards over the phone, by fax, by email, or through the mail. Full information on how to update health cards is online here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/forms.html

 

The Registration and Client Services Office at 300 Carlton Street in Winnipeg is temporarily closed to the public to support social distancing efforts. Manitoba residents can contact their office as follows:

Phone: 204-786-7101

Toll free:1-800-392-1207

TDD/TTY: 204-774-8618

TDD/TTY relay service outside Winnipeg: 711 or 1-800-855-0511

Fax: 204-783-2171

Email: insuredben@gov.mb.ca

Mail: 300 Carlton Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 3M9

 

A new or updated Manitoba Health card will be mailed within 7 to 10 business days.

 

If a person needs emergency health services while their card is being sent, they can contact the Manitoba Health office to have their Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) provided via phone or email.