Question Period Note: COVID-19 Region-Specific Card

As of May 5, the total number of reported COVID-19 cases among First Nations communities is 161. Two people have died.

N/A

Confirmed cases in Saskatchewan
• We are paying specific attention to the preparedness and response needs of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities.
• We are actively working with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority and the Saskatchewan Health Authority; and, the other communities where COVID-19 test positive cases have been confirmed to ensure necessary resources are in place.
• The health and safety of the individuals and the communities is a top priority and to respect the privacy of the individuals sick with COVID-19, we will not be commenting on the specifics of individual cases.
• We will continue to support the communities and address surge capacity as needed.

Confirmed cases in Ontario
• We are paying specific attention to the preparedness and response needs of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities.
• We are actively working with the communities where COVID-19 test positive cases have been confirmed to ensure necessary resources are in place.
• The health and safety of the individuals and the communities is a top priority and to respect the privacy of the individuals sick with COVID-19, we will not be commenting on the specifics of the cases.
• We will continue to support the communities and address surge capacity as needed.

Confirmed cases in Quebec:
• We are paying specific attention to the preparedness and response needs of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities.
• We are actively working with the communities to ensure necessary resources are in place.
• The health and safety of the communities is a top priority and to respect the privacy of those who are sick with COVID-19, we will not be commenting on the specifics of the case.
• We will continue to support the communities and address surge capacity as needed.

If pressed on Death of a Cree elder in Quebec
• The Government of Canada expresses our deepest sympathies to the family and everyone affected in the community.
• We understand from our partners that the deceased individual was being treated at a provincial institution in Montreal.
• All healthcare for the Eeyou (Cree) in Quebec is funded and provided through the provincial health system.
• We are funding Cree Board of Health and Social Services at approximately $7M per year, directly through a 5-year funding agreement.
• The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting partners and provincial governments in responding to the pandemic.

Confirmed cases in Alberta:
• We are paying specific attention to the preparedness and response needs of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities.
• The health and safety of the communities is a top priority and to respect the privacy of those who are sick with COVID-19, we will not be commenting on the specifics of the case.
• We are working with First Nations across Alberta to address surge capacity needs including capital support for isolation measures and additional nursing frontline care resources.
• Our regional Medical Officers of Health and Communicable Disease Control teams are actively working in partnership with communities where COVID-19 cases have been confirmed to implement disease control and public health measures to support containment and mitigate community spread.

Confirmed cases in the territories:
• As of May 4th, there were confirmed cases in the NWT, but they are now all recovered. The Government of the Northwest Territories is testing anyone with flu-like symptoms and who travelled outside of the Northwest Territories within the last 14 days.
• As of May 4th, there were confirmed cases in the Yukon, but they are now all recovered. As per the communicable disease protocol in the Yukon, the territorial government is not releasing the location of the individuals.