With the increase in COVID-19 cases in northern Manitoba, specifically in the Thompson-Mystery Lake Health District, the Northern Health Region’s Medical Officer of Health Doctor Michael Isaac spoke to the media to provide an update on the current situation.

 

Isaac says that due to the high number of cases in the south, particularly in Winnipeg, many of the cases in the north are travel related.

 

Speaking on the outbreak on the third floor of the Thompson YWCA, Isaac says that the health region and Public Health were able to successfully isolate all contacts identified from the cases linked to the outbreak.

 

Isaac says that as of Oct. 16 , approximately 40 identified contacts are self-isolating either at home or at the health region’s isolation units, but adds that those numbers are constantly influx.

 

He adds that since the outbreak occurred in the YWCA’s shelter program to help homeless people during the pandemic, the Northern health Region will do outreach testing both at the Thompson Homeless Shelter and in the community as a whole.

 

Isaac goes on to say that now is the time for northerners to get back into the fundamentals to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as frequent and thorough hand washing and hand sanitising, physically distance as much as you can, self-monitor for symptoms, and staying home if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.