December 24, 2020

COVID-19 BULLETIN #39

CHRISTMAS EVE UPDATE ON CURRENT SITUATION

Tansi!

Tonite is Christmas Eve and I have both good news and bad news to share in this update.

TEST RESULTS

As of today, all of the original 21 people identified as contacts in Bulletin #37 on December 20th have tested NEGATIVE so far. But, we are not out of the woods yet as anyone of them could still develop symptoms and test positive over the next 10 days or so. As I said last night, we will not know their status until early in the new year.

NEW SITUATION REPORTED IN DECEMBER 23rd BULLETIN

Two more people were tested today and we will know their results in a few days.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN ISOLATION

These two cases have resulted in OVER 150 people in our community currently being in isolation either in their own homes or at the isolation units. The number of people in isolation may continue to rise once contact tracing is completed. All of these people have to be monitored. If any of them develop symptoms they need to be tested. This has caused tremendous stress on our front-line workers – nurses, store employees, NCN government staff, Council members. Everyone is already exhausted. If new cases keep developing we will NOT be able to contain the virus which is what has happened in some other First Nation communities.

BE RESPONSIBLE – STAY AT HOME

The restrictions on movement we have put in place throughout the pandemic make a lot of sense when you realize that there are already over 150 people in isolation because of the actions of two people.

To prevent terrible suffering, everyone must follow the rules. The situation in our community will spiral out of control if more people come in contact with someone with COVID-19. THE SITUATION IS URGENT AND VERY SERIOUS. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH NURSES AND DOCTORS TO CARE FOR EVERYONE. EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO ACTS IRRESPONSIBLY AND DOES NOT FOLLOW THE RULES COMPROMISES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

No-one wants to be responsible for the illness and death of someone else. Our ancestors taught us responsibility. All our customary laws are based on acting responsibly. My Council and I are begging you to look after yourself and your family by staying home. RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT SAFE TO INTERACT WITH ANYONE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

You can still enjoy Christmas this year but you must celebrate with your own family in your own household. Have fun and make some good memories about this very strange Christmas. Hopefully, by next year we can look back on this pandemic and say that everyone in our community survived. Then we can all celebrate how we all came together to defeat COVID-19. In the meantime, the best way to thank our front-line workers is by being responsible. Merry Christmas to All!

I will continue to provide updates over the holidays as they become available.

Ekosani!