Roussin says Northern restrictions impacting province-wide hospital capacity

The Chief Public Health Officer says that it is too difficult to write orders for individual communities in the North.

Community leaders across Northern Manitoba have been expressing their frustrations with the province's decision to keep the current strict restrictions blanketing the north.

"We were hopeful that we would get the same treatment as southern Manitoba. The Northern Regional Health Authority is a huge, huge district. Without question, there are troubles in places like Lynn Lake and various isolated reserves, but the town of The Pas is closer to Winnipeg than Lynn Lake," The Pas Mayor Herb Jaques said on Friday.

The Mayor says many of his residents are seriously considering making the six-hour drive south to shop and see family.

Gillam Mayor Dwayne Forman, in a statement, is asking his residents to stay home for the time being.

Dr. Brent Roussin compares the numbers of cases in Winnipeg to the North, saying earlier Winnipeg experienced the spikes in cases due to facilities being open, creating high numbers of contacts. The doctor says the north is remaining restricted to prevent what occurred in Winnipeg from happening in the North.

"We are here trying to reduce the impact of this virus on our entire population. Right now, the test positivity rate in the north is quite high. We see outbreaks in many areas throughout the north, it is not just in certain places."

He says they chose to keep the North closed and to open the south due to progress they say in the whole of the southern parts of the province. The doctor says it is too difficult to make orders for individual communities due to the widespread cases and moving around.

Roussin says overall case numbers impact hospital capacity regardless of where the cases come from.

He says they chose to keep the North closed and to open the south due to progress they say in the whole of the southern parts of the province. The doctor says it is too difficult to make orders for individual communities.

Roussin is hopeful this approach means other parts of the province will be able to continue to see the loosened restrictions.

The Chief Public Health Officer says the test positivity rate up North continues to be high and is seeing residents continue to be mobile. 

A third COVID-19 vaccinations supersite in Manitoba will open next month in Thompson for Northern residents.