Cases of COVID-19 are decreasing on First Nations reserves across Canada.
Six Nations is reporting just 12 cases with no current hospitalizations. This is the first time this year that there have been no Six Nations residents in the hospital and the lowest case rates since last fall.
There are 39 people self isolating, awaiting test results. Actual cases may be higher than the number reflected in the new statistics as protocols for PCR testing has been changed.
Indigenous Services updated its reporting for First Nations, Inuit and territorial communities across the country. More than 87 per cent of individuals aged 12 and older have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 25 per cent have received a third/booster dose.
Officials now say that 49 per cent of First Nations individuals aged five to 11 have received at least one dose.
As of February 23, the following case counts have been reported from First Nations communities:
– 84,386 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, of which 11,212 are the Omicron variant
– 3,402 active cases
– 2,961 hospitalizations
– 80,332 recovered cases
– 652 deaths
For the week of February 17 to 23, the average daily reported active case counts dropped by 13.6 per cent compared with the daily average the week before.
This is compared with a 9.5 per cent decrease in average daily cases reported the week of February 10 to 16, from the week prior and a 13.2 per cent decrease in average daily cases reported the week of February 3 to 9, from the week prior.
A number of communities have sought intervention from federal officials.
Canadian Rangers are providing COVID-19 mitigation support in Attawapiskat, Kachechewan, Weenusk Mishkeegogamang and Eabemetoong First Nations until mid-March.