The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) previously notified that there have been positive tests within the following communities: Kasabonika Lake First Nation, Sandy Lake First Nation, and Pikangikum First Nation.
The update on the cases in communities is as follows:
Sandy Lake – 3 cases isolating in community, all are well
Kasabonika Lake –all cases resolved
Pikangikum – case is resolved
No evidence of further spread in each community.
We would like to acknowledge the impressive and continued efforts by community leadership, community pandemic teams, nursing stations, SLFNHA, tribal councils and all other partners.
The provinces of Ontario and Manitoba have seen an increase in numbers of people becoming ill with COVID-19. We recommend that communities continue to safeguard and follow public health guidelines. This is very important as the next few months are marked with special occasions, such as Thanksgiving.
- Limit holiday gatherings to family or household members only. Less people, less risk (10 people indoors, 25 people outdoors)
- Limit the length of time for the gathering. Less time, less risk
- Avoid non-essential travel
- Consider celebrating virtually, especially if family members are at increased risk of severe illness (elderly, people with medical conditions, weakened immune systems, etc.)
- Family members and students should assess the risk they may pose to their families and loved ones before returning home for Thanksgiving
- Are you returning from an area with increased or increasing COVID-19 activity? Increased COVID-19 activity, increased risk
- Have you been limiting your social interactions and following two metre distancing, hand washing and face covering recommendations in the past 14 days? Increased interactions without precautions, increased risk
Other key public health messages are:
- If you have symptoms which could be caused by COVID, contact the nursing station for assessment
- If you have had close contact with a known case, contact the nursing station for assessment.
- Close contact is unmasked contact, for 15 minutes, less than six feet apart and involvement in activities where you touch common surfaces frequently, share utensils etc.
We continue to encourage adhering to public health measures. This includes: physical distancing, handwashing, wearing masks/face covering in public where physical distancing cannot be maintained, staying in our circles as much as possible, cough and sneeze into your sleeve, and avoiding unnecessary travel.
