A growing COVID-19 outbreak in a northern Saskatchewan First Nation with where vaccination rates remain low has prompted the community to move into a lockdown.
Black Lake First Nation will remain in lockdown until Aug. 5, a letter from chief and council shared with community members said.
We have had Black Lake community members medevaced south because of this virus, said the letter which outlines a series of public health measures and closures.
During the lockdown there will be strictly limited access to facilities, travel is discouraged and community members are being advised to stay at home.
Residents have been provided with colour-coded signs to display to let neighbours know how they are doing and if assistance is required.
CASES SPIKE
According to an Athabasca Health Authority (AHA) report obtained by CTV News, there were 28 active cases in the community as of Monday.
Thats up from just a single recorded active case seven days earlier on July 13.
According to the AHA document, just 1 in 7 people are fully vaccinated in the community of more than 1,600.
At least six of the cases have resulted from the highly contagious Delta variant COVID-19 strain, the report said.
While the majority of cases are in adults, some of the cases have been identified in children, according to the report.
It is noteworthy to say that some positive cases have been fully vaccinated, AHA primary healthcare executive director Taiwo Olubanwo, writes in the report.
While it is possible to develop COVID-19 if fully vaccinated, the chances of developing severe illness or dying is greatly reduced.
Nearly 95 per cent of all active cases in the area served by the AHA — which includes Fond Du Lac, Uranium City and Stony Rapids — have been identified in Black Lake, according to the report.
Noticeably is the extremely low rate of the number of individuals who have been fully vaccinated with CoVID-19 in Black Lake compared to other AHA communities, Olubanwo writes.
In a message to the community included in the report, Olubanwo applauds the move to restrict travel as part of Black Lakes lockdown measures.
The letter from the First Nations leadership encourages community members to get vaccinated, follow health protocols and self-quarantine if diagnosed with COVID-19.
The fourth wave is hitting of this COVID-19 has caught us off guard … and is hitting us really hard right now. If we work hard and follow the guidelines, then we will beat it.
The letter also said northern leaders are working on getting food and cleaning supplies delivered from the south.
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MYLES CASTELLO
SANGRIA
03:24 AM |
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TUJAMO
BOOM
03:21 AM |
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SAYMYNAME
ALRIGHT
03:17 AM |
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TRACE
LOW
03:12 AM |
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ALAN WALKER
LIVE FAST
03:07 AM |
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TIESTO
LIFESTYLE
03:04 AM |
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MIKE THUNDER PENNINO
GIVE ME HOUSE
03:01 AM |
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JUSTIN BIEBER
THERE SHE GO
02:57 AM |
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D O D
ALL MINE
02:55 AM |
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AFROJACK
HERO
02:52 AM |
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