No one on Manitoba's Little Grand Rapids First Nation is supposed to leave their homes following news that multiple people have tested positive for COVID-19.

The government says the people tested positive after they attended events at a recreation centre late last month. Members of other communities were also in attendance.

The first confirmed case came on September 30, and since then there have been at least 19 people who have now tested positive.

"As LGRFN Chief and Council, we advise that after receiving confirmation of positive cases within our community, we are quickly responding and have moved into our next phase of pandemic planning to manage cases and keep the community safe," a notice to community members says. "We are working closely with Federal and Provincial officials to support and assist in public health and pandemic response. The Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team (PRCT) is also providing its full support to Little Grand as we need).

The community has been moved to level Red on the province's Provincial Pandemic Response System. "This move will increase safety measures and support the community in reducing the spread of the virus within Little Grand," the notice says.

Little Grand Rapids is in the Interlake-Eastern health region, 280 km north-northeast of Winnipeg, near the Ontario border.

A release from the province says people in the eastern Manitoba community should only go out to seek testing or medical care, or to send one person from a household for essential supplies.

People who work in essential services are able to leave their residence for work.

Another community expects full lockdown

O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation says in a notice sent out Sunday evening that it has now moved to a partial lockdown after community members were in contact with a confirmed positive case.

The community is 130 km north of Thompson.

"It’s recommended that all residents stay home and isolate as a family unit. Meanin. no one in or out," a notice from the community health complex says. "No travelling outside of the community recommend."

The notice says that community members should expect a full lockdown in the coming days and that 24 hours notice will be given.

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With files from the Canadian Press