Health official calls for 'circuit breaker' in Sask. north due to lagging COVID-19 vaccination rates
Health officials in Saskatchewan's north are calling for "circuit breaker" health measures due to lagging vaccination rates in some communities.
The Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA), which serves 33 First Nation communities throughout northern Saskatchewan, is asking residents to participate in a challenge to combat the spread of COVID-19.
“It's essentially a time limited intervention just to give some time to slow the virus while the public health team is also continuing to do their best to increase the COVID-19 vaccine coverage across the communities,” said medical health officer Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka.
While active cases and new daily case rates are declining in Saskatchewan’s north, Ndubuka said hospitalizations and ICU admissions remain high, and some vaccination rates lag behind the rest of the province.
Ndubuka said the health authority is strongly encouraging residents in the north to apply some changes to behaviour.
“To decrease the level of socialization by at least 50 per cent, and do not travel out of community for non essential reasons,” he said.
“Also to avoid any massive gathering, especially where there is no proof of vaccination requirements or negative tests that will potentially provide opportunity for mixing between those that are vaccinated and those that are on vaccinated,” said Ndubuka.
The health authority is encouraging people to work from home if they’re able to, stay home if they’re sick, and get vaccinated.
“As of Monday this week, November 8, across our northern communities on reserves we have a total of 71 per cent who have received their first dose those, aged 12 and over, and roughly about 50% have received the second dose,” he said.
“There are still some communities that are lagging behind, still less than 50 per cent for first and second dose.”
The health authority said it is preparing to provide vaccinations for children aged five to 11 who live on reserves, once the jabs are approved by Health Canada.
“We're also working with our communities to ensure that those clinics are set up in a way that would encourage parents to bring forth their kids to get the vaccination.”
Ndubuka says the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some of the inequities that people living in northern Saskatchewan have always faced.
“In terms of the social determinants of health, particularly around housing or housing conditions, particularly overcrowding has been one of the greatest risk factors for COVID-19 transmission,” he said.
Crowded living conditions can also make it more difficult for people who test positive to isolate from others, according to Ndubuka.
“Also access to quality healthcare services is also some of the concerns that we continue to have in the north and this challenges are not new,” Ndubuka said.
“They've been there prior to the pandemic, but obviously the pandemic has really exposed some of those vulnerabilities to a greater extent.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
Trudeau Liberals' two-month GST holiday bill passes the House, off to the Senate
The federal government's five-page piece of legislation to enact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised two-month tax break on a range of consumer goods over the holidays passed in the House of Commons late Thursday.
Irregular sleep patterns may raise risk of heart attack and stroke, study suggests
Sleeping and waking up at different times is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who get the recommended amount of sleep, according to new research.
California man who went missing for 25 years found after sister sees his picture in the news
It’s a Thanksgiving miracle for one California family after a man who went missing in 1999 was found 25 years later when his sister saw a photo of him in an online article, authorities said.
As Australia bans social media for children, Quebec is paying close attention
As Australia moves to ban social media for children under 16, Quebec is debating whether to follow suit.
Notre Dame Cathedral: Sneak peak ahead of the reopening
After more than five years of frenetic reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral showed its new self to the world Friday, with rebuilt soaring ceilings and creamy good-as-new stonework erasing somber memories of its devastating fire in 2019.
Canada Post temporarily laying off striking workers, union says
The union representing Canada Post workers says the Crown corporation has been laying off striking employees as the labour action by more than 55,000 workers approaches the two-week mark.
Can't resist Black Friday weekend deals? How to shop while staying within your budget
A budgeting expert says there are a number of ways shoppers can avoid getting enveloped by the sales frenzy and resist spending beyond their means.
Montreal shopping mall playing 'Baby Shark' song to prevent unhoused from loitering
A shopping mall and office complex in downtown Montreal is being criticized for using the popular children's song 'Baby Shark' to discourage unhoused people from loitering in its emergency exit stairwells.