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VULNERABLE56 the numbers are likely to be significantly under-reported because of a lack of testing. Health Canada is said to be mobilizing testing capacity, shipping personal protective equipment (PPE), and sending bottled water, hand sanitizer, isolation tents, and additional health professionals to communities. However, no concrete plan of action has been made publicly available, nor have the unique challenges of dealing with an outbreak on reserve been acknowledged, including issues with limited health infrastructure and services and those relat- ing to the ability to self-isolate, quarantine, and physically distance.17 ISC’s general COVID-19 strategy (see Figure A2.1 at the end of the chapter) has reported that the federal government will pay what it costs to respond to possible outbreaks in Indigenous communities. The media reports that, as of April 24, the government has allocated $145.6 billion in direct support for COVID-19 responses.18 While Indigenous people make up roughly 4.5% of the Canadian popu- lation19 as a whole, Indigenous-specific funding only accounts for 0.56% of the federal government’s COVID-19 funding allocation. This has been widely criticized as insufficient and lacking an understand- ing of the issues that First Nations communities are facing.20 On March 18, 2020, the Minister for ISC announced the Indigenous Community Support Fund,21 which includes $305 mil- lion for Indigenous people in Canada, with funds set aside to sup- port regional, urban, and off-reserve Indigenous organizations. The allocation between First Nations ($215 million), Inuit ($45 million), Institute <https://yellowheadinstitute.org/2020/05/12/colonialism-of-the-curve- indigenous-communities-and-bad-covid-data/>. 17. Teresa Wright, “COVID-19 Outbreaks in 23 First Nations Prompt Worries”, CTV News (1 May 2020), online: <https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/covid-19-outbreaks- in-23-first-nations-prompt-worries-1.4920181>. 18. Karina Roman, “By the Numbers: Federal Projected Spending on Direct Supports Due to COVID-19 Hits $145B”, CBC (24 April 2020), online: <https://www.cbc.ca/ news/politics/covid-19-economic-programs-1.5543092>. 19. Statistics Canada,  Aboriginal  Peoples  Highlight  Tables, 2016 Census (Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2016), online: Statistics Canada <https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/ census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/abo-aut/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T= 101&S=99&O=A>. 20. Teresa Wright, “Ottawa Response for COVID-19 Outbreak in Indigenous Communities Troubling”, National Observer (15 March 2020), online: <https:// www.nationalobserver.com/2020/03/15/news/ottawa-response-covid-19- outbreak-indigenous-communities-troubling>. 21. Indigenous Services Canada, Indigenous  Community  Support  Fund  (Ottawa: Indigenous Services Canada, 2020), online:  Indigenous  Services  Canada <https:// www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1585189335380/1585189357198>.