Confirmed cases of COVID-19 On First Nations reserves, as of July 18 Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is aware of

Press Release

Cases in First Nations on reserve

On First Nations reserves, as of July 18 Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is aware of:

  • the following cumulative reported numbers
    • 112,876 confirmed positive COVID-19
    • 3,428 hospitalizations
    • 111,131 recovered cases
    • 739 deaths
  • the current reported active number of cases: 1,006

Cases by region

Case numbers by region:

  • British Columbia 8,830
  • Alberta: 20,356
  • Saskatchewan: 16,362
  • Manitoba: 25,421
  • Ontario: 23,077
  • Quebec: 14,172
  • Atlantic: 4,658

Monthly comparative data on the number of active cases in First Nations communities

In May 2022, First Nations communities reported the following data:

  • 952 average daily reported active COVID-19 cases
    • a 61% decrease from April 2022
  • 36 newly reported hospitalizations
    • a 41% decrease from April 2022
  • 8 newly reported deaths
    • a 57.9% decrease from April 2022

Number of cases by variants

Since the beginning of the pandemic, ISC is aware of 34,421 COVID-19 confirmed cases due to variants of concern in First Nations communities, with the following breakdown by type:

  • 3,148 alpha
  • 16 beta
  • 165 gamma
  • 8,360 delta
  • 2,392 indeterminate with variant of concern traits
  • 20,340 omicron

13,478 omicron cases are in First Nations communities in Eastern Canada and 6,862 cases are in First Nations communities in Western Canada. Omicron has been detected in a total of 134 First Nations communities.

For breakdowns for general population in Canada consult Variants of concern.

Provincial chief public health officers work with ISC’s regional medical officers and nurses to provide medical support as needed when a positive case is reported.

Comparison of the number of cases in Indigenous communities with the general population

As of June 30, 2022:

  • the rate of reported active cases of COVID-19 in First Nations people living on-reserve was going down since mid-January 2021 and reached its lowest point during the first week of August at 84.2 cases per 100,000
  • with the arrival of omicron variant, the rate had increased to its highest level at 1,596.7 per 100,000 during the second week of January 2022. Since then, the rate of reported active cases has gone down, plateauded, increased and has decreased again to its current level of 122.1 per 100,000
  • the COVID-19 case fatality rate among First Nations people living on a reserve is 63% of the case fatality rate in the general Canadian population
  • nearly 99% of First Nations people living on a reserve who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered

Related links

For more details on case numbers in First Nations communities, visit:

For the total number of confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 across Canada, visit:

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