TORONTO -- First Nations communities largely avoided deadly outbreaks in the pandemic鈥檚 first wave and only account for a tiny fraction of Canada鈥檚 total COVID-19 caseload, but officials warn that a recent trend of large, mask-free gatherings could change that.
that, as of Wednesday, the department is aware of 1,100 cases of COVID-19 on First Nations reserves. That鈥檚 less than one per cent of Canada鈥檚 total caseload, now at more than 208,000 cases.
Fifteen people from First Nations communities have died since March, officials said, and 72 others have been hospitalized.
Concerns were raised early on in the pandemic about the country鈥檚 most isolated First Nations communities, many of which have little access to hospitals, testing and medical supplies. Advocates warned that Indigenous Canadians could be vulnerable if outbreaks were to occur on reserves, and some communities responded by setting up blockades to keep outsiders away.
That potential crisis was avoided. But officials warn that the success story could be spoiled as infection rates on reserves see a troubling surge.
Each week since Oct. 4, First Nations communities have recorded another 160 new cases. As of today, 322 cases are considered active, nearly a third of the total cases on First Nations reserves since March.
Indigenous Services Canada said the rising caseload has been linked to private and public gatherings held in places where participants didn鈥檛 wear masks or didn鈥檛 practice physical distancing.
Earlier this month, a First Nation community in Saskatchewan shuttered its schools and went into lockdown after a series of religious services where participants didn鈥檛 wear masks, sparking concerns about transmission. A Manitoba First Nation took similar action after 19 people tested positive for COVID-19.
鈥淓veryone must remain vigilant and continue to follow the measures that save lives,鈥 the department said in a statement Thursday.
Most cases on reserves were recoded in Alberta, with 386 cases, followed by Saskatchewan (212 cases), British Columbia (176 cases), Ontario (139 cases), Manitoba (122 cases) and Quebec (65 cases).
In Nunavik, Quebec, there have been 25 confirmed cases. Five remained active as of Thursday.
Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller said earlier this month that he鈥檚 certain Indigenous communities will face a tougher time in the second wave.
"Given what we have seen in the last two weeks, there is little doubt the second wave of COVID-19 will hit Indigenous communities harder,鈥 Miller said on Oct. 8.
Researchers have been calling for Canada to track the link between race and COVID-19 as studies show marginalized communities suffer disproportionately more than white Canadians during the pandemic.
Research from the University of Toronto suggests that Black, South Asian and Indigenous Canadians are far more likely than white Canadians to have multiple medical conditions putting them at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19.
Indigenous Canadians are nearly twice as likely as white Canadians born in Canada to have three or more pre-existing health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, according to University of Toronto PhD student Shen Lin.
At the University of Calgary, to deliver medical supplies to Alberta鈥檚 most remote communities. Researchers have partnered with the Stoney Nakoda Nations, a group of three neighbouring tribes west of Calgary, and will use the flying robots to deliver medical equipment and COVID-19 test kits.
With the second wave well underway, Canada recorded 2,788 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with B.C. and Alberta breaking their daily case records. Four people died of the virus in Manitoba, marking the province鈥檚 deadliest day so far.
