At least 2 remote First Nations in Ontario implement travel restrictions amid Omicron variant concerns

At least two remote First Nations in northern Ontario have taken steps to prevent non-essential travel and protect their communities from the emerging Omicron threat.

It's a move the region's top public health physician hopes will be replicated across the region.

"We believe that we will be impacted by this new variant of concern, and we're making the preparations for that," said Dr. Lloyd Douglas.

At an emergency meeting of chiefs that was held last week, Douglas warned that infections due to the Omicron variant may overwhelm public health capacity with case and contact management, and he issued a lengthy list of recommendations to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the First Nations.

Those recommendations include:

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug was the first to restrict travel, doing so on Dec. 13. Community members are allowed to travel to smaller communities in the area, like Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Kenora. But non-essential travel further than that, for example to larger urban centres like Winnipeg or Thunder Bay, is restricted.

Essential trips, like for medical appointments, are still allowed, but anyone coming back must isolate for seven days and receive two negative tests. Essential workers like nurses, police officers and contractors are under additional COVID-19 protocols.

Chief Donny Morris said although they don't currently have any cases of COVID-19, the First Nation is operating under the assumption that Omicron is already present in the community.

"We're told it's like a wall, you're going up against a wall, and this thing is just climbing."

Neskantaga's restrictions kicked in Monday and are even stricter. 

It isn't allowing any non-essential travel in or out of the fly-in community, and anyone coming into the First Nation and who is not fully vaccinated must isolate for 14 days.

"We hear it's very contagious and that's really concerning for all of us," Chief Wayne Moonias told CBC News. "We have to put something in place because we have a lot of vulnerable populations."

The concern is even higher in Neskantaga, Moonias said, because of the compounding crises affecting the First Nation. The First Nation has been under a state of emergency since 2013 because of a suicide crisis and high rates of substance use, and has been under a boil-water advisory for nearly 27 years.

Moonias said they also have just one isolation unit in Neskantaga, as the First Nation faces overcrowding and a shortage of nearly 100 homes.