Worries grow as virus spreads to 23 Indigenous communities
OTTAWA — Federal officials say the next two weeks will be crucial in trying to determine the scope and severity of the spread of COVID-19 in First Nations communities.
Cases of the virus have begun to occur within Indigenous communities across Canada, including the first case in Nunavut — something health officials have been bracing for with concern, given the many vulnerabilities that exist among Indigenous populations.
Dr. Tom Wong, chief medical officer of public health at Indigenous Services Canada, said it’s too early to determine the severity of these outbreaks and whether the situation will worsen.
He said health officials are closely monitoring the situations and have jumped into action where needed.
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller noted a particular concern over an outbreak in the Dene village of La Loche, about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
Conservative MP Gary Vidal, who represents the northern Saskatchewan riding where the village is located, said his concern is personal.
“This is my hometown, this is my area. These are families and kids that I coached in hockey and they’re all friends and connections, so this has become very personal for me suddenly,” Vidal told Miller during a House of Commons committee meeting Friday.
He noted the outbreak includes the deaths of two elders living in a care facility and that there are now also active cases in the neighbouring First Nation communities of English River and Clearwater River Dene.
“It’s too late for reactive measures. Now is the time for a major proactive response from [Indigenous Services Canada] in northern Saskatchewan. This has become a very dangerous situation,” Vidal said.
Miller acknowledged he is “very worried” about this outbreak, and that his department has been working with the province and the Northern InterTribal Health Authority to ensure a co-ordinated effort. Health Canada is mobilizing testing capacity, planning to ship personal protective equipment and sending in additional health professionals and medical officers.
As of April 30, there were 131 active cases of COVID-19 in 23 Indigenous communities across Canada, and federal officials are working closely with First Nations leaders, provinces and territories to help slow the spread of the virus.
Some of these outbreaks have been traced to workplaces. This includes an outbreak of COVID-19 at a meat-packing plant in Alberta, which has been identified as the source of new cases in the nearby Stoney Nakoda First Nation, west of Calgary, Wong said.