Confirmed cases of COVID-19

Confirmed cases

Data on this page

Confirmed cases posted on this page reflect only the COVID-19 testing results reported to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). Because of home testing and individuals choosing not to get tested, these numbers are an underestimation of all positive COVID-19 cases in First Nations communities.

On this page

Cases in First Nations on reserve

On First Nations reserves, as of March 9 Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is aware of:

  • the following cumulative reported numbers
    • 126,135 confirmed positive COVID-19
    • 3,660 hospitalization
    • 125,244 recovered cases
    • 798 deaths
  • the current reported active number of cases: 93

Cases by region

Case numbers by region:

  • British Columbia 9,129
  • Alberta: 21,083
  • Saskatchewan: 16,838
  • Manitoba: 28,143
  • Ontario: 31,447
  • Quebec: 14,837
  • Atlantic: 4,658

Monthly comparative data on the number of active cases in First Nations communities

In February 2023, First Nations communities reported the following data*:

  • 500 average daily reported active COVID-19 cases
    • A 23% increase from January 2023
  • 15 newly reported hospitalizations
    • a 29% decrease from January 2023
  • 9 newly reported deaths
    • a nearley 350% increase from January 2023

* With reduced frequency of COVID-19 reporting, previously reported November counts of hospitalizations and deaths were affected by a reporting delay. In this update, month-to-month comparisons were made using the data reported as of March 9, 2023.

Number of cases by variants

Since the beginning of the pandemic, ISC is aware of 36,246 COVID-19 confirmed cases due to variants of concern in First Nations communities, with the following breakdown by type:

  • 3,151 Alpha
  • 16 Beta
  • 165 Gamma
  • 8,407 Delta
  • 2,525 indeterminate with variant of concern traits
  • 21,982 Omicron

14,276 omicron cases are in First Nations communities in Eastern Canada and 7,706 cases are in First Nations communities in Western Canada. Omicron has been detected in a total of 134 First Nations communities.

For breakdowns for general population in Canada consult Variants of concern.

Provincial chief public health officers work with ISC's regional medical officers and nurses to provide medical support as needed when a positive case is reported.

Comparison of the number of cases in Indigenous communities with the general population

As of March 9, 2023:

  • the rate of reported active cases of COVID-19 in First Nations people living on-reserve was going down since reaching its highest level this year in mid-January 2022 at 1,985 cases per 100,000 and has plateaued through the summer months around 207 cases per 100,000 continued its decline through the winter 2022 to 2023. It is currently at 21 cases per 100,000
  • the COVID-19 case fatality rate among First Nations people living on a reserve is 63% of the case fatality rate in the general Canadian population
  • 99% of First Nations people living on a reserve who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered

Related links

For more details on case numbers in First Nations communities, visit:

For the total number of confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 across Canada, visit:

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