On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. APTN News is reporting from across the country on the viral outbreak and how it is impacting Indigenous communities. Read more here: COVID-19 APTN News
Indigenous organizations are taking steps to address the COVID-19 pandemic less than a week after Manitoba recorded it’s first case.
“We find ourselves in perilous times. We find ourselves in a precarious situation but I think that our people are resilient have always been resilient. We have been through many epidemics” said Garrison Settee, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO).
He said MKO has a plan.
It includes several recommendations for First Nations.
Both federal and provincial governments have encouraged social distancing, but overcrowded homes is a reality for many communities.
MKO medical advisor Dr. Barry Lavallee urged communities to postpone gatherings with 10 or more people as opposed to the province’s recommendation of 50 or more.
This is due to reasons including preexisting health conditions and lack of access to health services.
Other recommendations include closing community borders to limit people coming in and going out.
There were no document cases of COVID-19 as of publishing time.
But Lavallee said community members should assume the virus has already spread.
