Surge in new COVID-19 infections follows low vaccine uptake in northern Sask., health authority says
COVID-19 infections continue to rise in Saskatchewan’s northern communities, prompting a lockdown and a nudge to the provincial government to make this a priority.
According to a report by the Athabasca Health Authority (AHA) 34 active cases are in the region, many of which originate in Black Lake, a small Dene reserve with a population of about 1,325.
This time last month, the region only had three active cases, according to AHA.
Twenty-eight per cent of the region is fully vaccinated according to AHA, and in Black Lake the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals drops to 14 per cent.
The rest of Saskatchewan is sitting at around 54 per cent of people who are fully vaccinated, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
On July 23, a COVID-19 outbreak was declared in Black Lake, prompting a community-wide lockdown effective until Aug. 5.
In a letter to residents of Black Lake, the lockdown means no travel in and out of the community except for essential workers or medical emergencies.
Evidence gathered by AHA suggests a link between the rising number of new infections and the low uptake in vaccinations, according to a report.
MOE HAS 'ABSCONDED'
It’s a situation NDP opposition leader Ryan Meili said the province should focus on and remedy.
“This was a pattern that was visible and predictable. Scott Moe and the Sask Party have done very little, they need to work with local elders and leaders to promote the vaccine, they need to look at incentives to get people out and get that vaccine,” Meili said.
He added lifting all public health restrictions province wide on July 11 left many communities still struggling with rising case numbers with little power to stop COVID-19.
“Right now they have people who are positive, know that they are positive and are out in the community and there’s nothing they can do to make sure people quarantine because the Saskatchewan government, Scott Moe, has absconded from the scene, he’s taken off, decided he wants nothing to do to get this under control.”
This week Health Minister Paul Merriman told reporters it’s up to local medical health officers to request public health restrictions be put in place to stop localized spread.
However, Merriman the ministry has not received such requests from northern health authorities.
“We’re not looking at increasing any massive public health orders or provincial-wide orders, there’s nothing on the books now and these are very localized. We will be able to manage this with the help of the community and the leaders,” Merriman said.
As for vaccine uptake, Merriman said the province can’t force the vaccine on anyone, but the recent climb in case numbers and hospitalizations has been linked to people who aren’t fully vaccinated.
“The best thing we can do in the short term and long term is to get vaccinated and adhere to hand-washing, making sure you minimize your contact if there’s an outbreak in a specific area,” he said.
In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of Health said upon repealing the provincial health orders, isolation is no longer mandatory.
However, cases and contacts are still advised by the SHA to self-isolate and follow other public health recommendations.
This week the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) called on the provincial government to help the Buffalo River Dene Nation as it is also seeing a surge in new COVID-19 infections.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.