Rangers deployed to Shamattawa ‘too little, too late’ as COVID-19 infects nearly 200, chief says – CBC
Overcrowded homes, lack of support lead to ballooning case counts in fly-in community: Chief Eric Redhead
Dec 07, 2020
The chief of a northern Manitoba First Nation where roughly one in five people has tested positive for COVID-19 says the military’s involvement needs to be ramped up to adequately address the growing crisis in the community.
The Canadian Armed Forces announced on Saturday it will soon be on hand to support the Shamattawa First Nation, where Chief Eric Redhead said there were 195 confirmed cases among the community’s approximately 1,300 people as of Sunday evening.
Redhead said the First Nation needs urgent help as cases in the community, about 745 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, have skyrocketed from only a few just two weeks ago. Dozens are now isolating at sites outside of the community and about 20 are in quarantine at the community’s gymnasium.
