Sixteen workers tested positive for COVID-19 and another 15 ‘no’ on kiosk test: MB Hydro

Manitoba Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said Monday afternoon that 16 workers have so far been positive, while another 15 workers received an “apparently no” result from an initial screening test conducted by Manitoba Hydro’s contract lab.

Any “not clear” result identified by the initial test will be confirmed by a second test processed by the Kadham Provincial Lab, Owen said.

Five people tested positive for COVID-19 at the kiosk, while another 12 had vague results of their initial screening.

Last week Manitoba Hydro said it was testing all of its employees on site after five workers tested positive for COVID-19.

All of the workers have now been tested and currently 90 workers are alone at the project site, Owen said.

The first countries want more transparency

In a November 1 news release from Manitoba Kivatinovi Okimakanak (MKO), Dr. Barry Lavali, medical adviser to the MKO health organization Kivatinokh Inniev Minowavin, advised members of the First Nations at the kiosk – or those who had recently – seceded from the kiosk. .

MKO officials are scheduled to meet with Manitoba Hydro on Monday to discuss the situation, “they demanded, providing clear and transparent communication to the people working on the kiosk construction project,” the news release said.

Manitoba Hydro also announced last week that it was cutting its employees at the site.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs also expressed concern over the situation at the kiosk, with MKO demanding that the place be placed under Code Red in the province’s pandemic response system.

AMC Grand Chief Arlene Dumas called for more transparency from Manitoba Hydro, demanding that the Crown Corporation give information and resources to chiefs from neighboring First Nations.

He said the AMC was concerned about the testing and isolation methods implemented by Manitoba Hydro because neighboring First Nations was not secretive about that information.

“We will make our countries the first countries that are reasonable and realistic as dictated by our leadership and public health experts, however, about the extent of the Manitoba hydro outbreak, with test data and the first countries wanting to come.

“We urge First Nations to be a part of the dialogue and to work together to find a safe and effective solution.”

CBC News asked Manitoba to comment on the hydro.