Canadian military sends 35 to COVID-beset Red Sucker Lake First Nation

The federal government has beefed up its military response in northern Manitoba'sRed Sucker Lake First Nation, where more than two dozen people have fallen ill from COVID-19.

Some 35 Canadian Armed Forces members arrived in the community, about 535 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, on Thursday after receiving a request for help from the First Nation, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair both tweeted.

Thegroup consists of a medical team, support and general duty personnel and leadership from CFB Shilo and CFB Edmonton, aNational Defence spokesperson said in an email.

They will work alongside members of Red Sucker Lake and other government departments and agencies in providing "humanitarianassistance and addressing the emergent needs of this remote community," the spokesperson said.

The deployment follows a visit by a smaller contingent that arrived Monday and included armed forces membersfrom CFBShilo as well asother federal, provincial and community partners.

The purpose of that visit was torapidly assess the COVID-19 situation and determine the next steps.

That contingent, which includedtwo physicians, also brought300 rapid testing devices, Red Sucker Lake Chief Samuel Knotttold CBC News on Monday.

Whoever is symptomatic will be testedand those who testnegative will be retested every five to seven days afterward, Knott said. So far,28 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the community of about 1,000, he said.

The military members who landed Thursday will:

• Provide assistance to the community in the production and distribution of requirements such as food, firewood and care packages.
• Assistlocal authorities insetting up isolation spaces.
• Provide accommodation and transportation assistance to other government departments and agencies working in the area.
• Assistlocal health authorities in providing medical care and support.

"The CAF will remain until the need for military assistance is satisfied. We work closely with provincial and federal authorities to monitor the situation and determine criteria that would indicate when our support is no longer required," theNational Defence spokesperson said.

"Once our forces are no longer required to support response to COVID-19, they will return to bases and units, where they will regenerate so they are ready for future tasks."