Wild fire evacuation in Sask. north leads to spike in COVID-19 cases
On Thursday, the Far North West region recorded another 14 cases of COVID-19, bring the total active cases for the region to 83.
The Buffalo River Dene Nation was recently evacuated due to forest fires in the area with residents heading to Lloydminster and North Battleford.
“That evacuation has resulted in several risks for transmission of COVID-19, and unfortunately, we have reported an increase in the number of cases amongst the residents of Buffalo River,” said Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka.
Several communities were forced to evacuate due to the wildfires in the area.
“About 10 cases of the strain are positive for the variants of concern and we are working on confirmation to make a determination on weather they are the Delta variant or what kind of variants,” Ndubuka told CTV News.
Ndubuka also points to the surge in cases due to the increase in testing and the vaccine hesitancy among residents.
Île-à-la-Crosse is reporting zero case of COVID-19, said mayor Dwayne Favel.
“I think everybody's concerned with the health and wellness of our young people. We want our people to be healthy and well.”
Favel says the Île-à-la-Crosse first vaccination rate is 70 per cent for people over 12.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.