The amount of COVID-19 variant cases is increasing in Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) communities. (Photo 173655293 © Leigh Prather | Dreamstime.com)

By Teena Monteleone

VoC cases in the north

COVID-19 variants of concern increasing steadily across the North

Apr 27, 2021 | 4:47 PM

As of Tuesday, April 27, the total number of identified COVID-19 cases infected with a variant of concern (VoC) in northern zones was 367. Just a week ago, that number sat at 196.

That’s a major cause of concern for the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) given the fact VoCs have a 30 to 70 per cent higher transmissibility rate than the original strain and the north has unique challenges around access to health and adequate infrastructure.

“We do have issues around inadequate housing and that makes it difficult to safely isolate cases away from their household,” said Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka, medical health officer for NITHA. “So, when you have a variant in your home where there is crowding, you can expect to have additional cases in the home. So, that’s what really concerns us.”

The western half of the northern zones has seen the most VoC cases. The Far North West, which includes the communities of Meadow Lake, La Loche and Flying Dust and Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nations has screened 87 cases. While the North West, which includes Lloydminster and North Battleford, has screened 167 cases. Compare that to just 14 VoC cases within the Far North East and North East zones combined.

Ndubuka said there are issues in the north around non-compliance with self-isolation measures and with following recommendations to avoid mass gatherings.

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“Communities are continuing to adjust their informational capacity and also any resources they deem appropriate to be able to respond. So, we’re continuing to work closely with different pandemic teams in the communities, health teams and partners like Indigenous Services Canada and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to respond and support the northern communities as much as possible,” Ndubuka said.

“The northern resources are not infinite. So, we need to manage the resources we have.”

He acknowledged the general public may be feeling ‘COVID fatigue’ but encouraged everyone who has been offered the vaccine to get it as soon as possible.

“We just need everyone to hang on for now and buy time for more residents in the north to get the vaccine so we can achieve the herd immunity,” Ndubuka said.

According to the province’s COVID-19 data dashboard, the population of all northern zones is 272,937. As of April 27, a total of 76,896 first doses of vaccine had been administered within that population.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MonteleoneTeena