Covid-19 Daily News Digest – April 12, 2020
Brazilian teen’s death raises coronavirus alert for indigenous groups
Many of Brazil’s indigenous groups in the Amazon have effectively retreated into their territories. The concern is that the teen’s death is a harbinger of more cases as the virus still manages to permeate their lands, where communal living can facilitate contagion and proper medical care is remote.
Indigenous Services minister warns against complacency because of few COVID-19 cases
“If you are a nurse or if you are graduating as a nurse, please, please consider working in the north because the north needs you,” Wong added ISC is aggressively recruiting nurses
Ontario shifts COVID-19 testing focus as cases top 6,000
The rest will go to symptomatic members of at-risk populations, including:
- Health-care workers.
- First responders like police and paramedics.
- Indigenous and remote and rural communities.
- People in homeless shelters or prisons.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-coronavirus-good-friday-testing-guidelines-1.5529076
New virtual mental health supports for COVID-19 on the way
Enhanced virtual services will help all British Columbians with mental health needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on adults, youth and front-line health care workers. The funding will also increase access for Indigenous communities and those living in rural and remote parts of the province. It will provide more options for people living with mental health challenges who are currently unable to access in-person supports.
http://castlegarsource.com/news/new-virtual-mental-health-supports-covid-19-way
Rangers to bolster First Nations’ COVID-19 response
Units are currently present in around 30 First Nations communities. The CAF said rangers could be mobilized to assist in other communities that do not have a local patrol. Army leadership said planning has been underway for weeks.
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/rangers-to-bolster-first-nations-covid-19-response-2246424
Chief Stacey Laforme addresses COVID-19 pandemic through poetry
As his family and council obligations have intensified during the COVID-19 crisis, Laforme still writes. He’d already been juggling ideas but says that a casual text from The Spectator over the weekend stimulated him to quickly complete, then revise, the poem addressing the pandemic.
B.C.’s most ambitious tree-planting season ever on the chopping block as coronavirus wreaks havoc
Jordan Tesluk, a consultant to the tree planting industry on health and safety issues, said the latter point is essential. To alleviate concerns First Nations have expressed about the danger the virus poses to isolated communities, it’s essential that tree planters “avoid any and all contact with First Nations communities.”
COVID-19: Support for workers
If you’re feeling anxious, experiencing other mental health or addiction challenges or you can’t access your regular in-person counselling support, there are services you can access online or by phone:
Hope for Wellness Helpline: Indigenous peoples can call 1-855-242-3310 for immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention across Canada (available in some Indigenous languages). Live web chat is also available.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-support-workers
COVID-19 case confirmed in remote, northeastern B.C. First Nation
The Blueberry River First Nations, about one hundred kilometres north of Fort St John, has issued a statement saying a case has been identified in the community.
5 Billion COVID-19 Action Plan Unveiled To Help People And Businesses
The $1.7 billion includes investments in housing and shelter supports, income and disability assistance programs and crucial health services, such as funding for the BC Centre for Disease Control hotline, quarantine costs, lab tests and work underway at the First Nations Health Authority and the United Way’s Better at Home program for seniors.
Dr. Bonnie Henry statement on Peace Villa
This week though we learned a care home worker in Fort St. John has tested positive for COVID and is in hospital in Prince George. The worker is a member of Blueberry River First Nation, and that First Nation is now on lockdown.
https://www.kamsacktimes.com/covid-19/dr-bonnie-henry-statement-on-peace-villa-1.24116556
Cree-speaking raven puppet gives COVID-19 health information
“We’ve kind of hit a sweet spot, which is finding something that’s useful from a health perspective but has value in itself in terms of something that’s funny and relevant from a cultural perspective,” said McLachlan, a professor in the University of Manitoba’s Department of Environment and Geography.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/covid-health-information-cree-raven-1.5528099
Care home worker in Fort St. John, B.C., tests positive for COVID-19
“We will be working with provincial and federal health officials, the RCMP, neighbouring jurisdictions, as well as our internal team to take a unified and coordinated approach to this issue, which threatens our uniquely vulnerable community,” wrote Yahey.
B.C. Ferry traffic remains low, Provincial Health Officer calms fears about Easter travel
The Heiltsuk First Nation was among a group of First Nations and local governments that wrote to the B.C. and federal governments last week to request emergency measures to stem non-essential travel to the north and central coast region.
The province says it is working with First Nations to develop travel policies and guidelines.
COVID-19 cases remain at 26 in Northern Health Region
The Blueberry First Nation remains on lockdown after a case of COVID-19 was confirmed on Wednesday. Dr. Henry says they have been working closely with the First Nations Health Authority and other partners to make sure we have a culturally safe way of addressing COVID-19.