COVID-19 Daily News Digest – January 14th, 2021
How indigenous communities faced off against COVID-19 globally
Common spaces and collective ownership of land are integral parts of first peoples’ vibrant culture. However, wherever correct information reached community members, they were quick to adapt to the unfolding crisis by acknowledging the repercussions if such a disease were to spread in their community.
It is thus interesting to note that while COVID-19 ravaged income sources of several community members, indigenous peoples in several countries, with their coping strategies, have few COVID-19 cases.
Their close relationship to nature and respect of the wisdom and advice of elders have guided them to adopt traditional isolation practices and turning towards often neglected traditional livelihoods and local food production systems.
Coronavirus: 4,384 active cases of COVID-19 on First Nations reserves
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller announced a total of ,384 active cases of COVID-19 are currently ongoing across Canada’s First Nations reserves.
Sask. among highest COVID-19 case counts on First Nations nationally
“For a viral infection like COVID, where you need to isolate for 14 days and the fact that every family or every household is 10 to 15 people,” Regina Medical Health Officer for Indigenous Services Canada Dr. Ibrahim Khan said. “It really becomes impossible to make that isolation happen.”
“It’s important to understand that health is directly related to wealth and that the First Nations People of Canada are the poorest people in Canada,” Taypotat said. “It’s sad to say, but the original people of this land, are the poorest financially, which ultimately means we are the sickest.”
On Wednesday, the federal government announced an additional $1.2 billion to help First Nations in Canada fight COVID-19.
The money will go towards supporting First Nations in their measures to prevent, prepare and respond to the virus.
COVID-19 in Indigenous communities: total cases in First Nations surpass 11,000
As of Jan. 11, 4,225 active cases were reported in First Nations. In a Jan. 8 update, the federal department said there was a reduction in the number of newly reported cases the week of Dec. 27 to Jan. 2, versus three weeks previously.
But the data does not take into account new outbreaks that have since occurred. In Manitoba, First Nations now account for 40 per cent of new infections while making up about 10 per cent of the overall provincial population
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-covid-19-update-1.5870156
Ottawa announces $1.2B more to help Indigenous communities fight COVID-19 pandemic
OTTAWA — Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says Ottawa will spend $1.2 billion in new funding to help Indigenous communities keep fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
That includes another $380 million for the Indigenous communities support fund to help First Nations deal with COVID-19, including providing support for elders, addressing food insecurity and supporting initiatives to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Manitoba has used a third of its COVID-19 vaccine supply, smooth rollout reported on First Nations
At last report Monday, slightly more than 10,000 vaccine doses had been administered across Manitoba, but according to the federal government nearly 30,000 doses have been delivered to the province since December.
Meanwhile, First Nations leaders in Northern Manitoba say the vaccine rollout is off to a good start, but there’s plenty of work still to do.
First Nations communities are receiving 5,300 initial doses of the Moderna vaccine, followed by another 5,300 expected early next month.
Seven First Nations communities in northern Manitoba have so far received the vaccine, according to Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), and hundreds of individuals have received their first shot.
Federal data shows Alberta First Nations hardest hit by COVID-19
Young Indigenous Peoples have been hardest hit, especially among those in the five to 19 and 20-39 age groups.
A state of local emergency was declared on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation earlier this week due to rising numbers.
It advised anyone exhibiting symptoms to follow the four part protocol, including: following the advice of health professionals, including assisting with contact tracing, self-isolating, wearing a mask and practicing hand hygiene, and avoiding all non-essential travel.
Northern Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 immunization underway; chiefs describe some hesitancy
“The fear is; ‘why are they giving it to First Nations people first? Why do we have to be the first ones to try it?’ Simply because we’re most at risk. That’s the determining factor,” Chief Constant says.
“We have a lot of old school people in our communities that don’t believe in the western way, they believe in the traditional medicines, and we have to respect that.”
He adds leadership is making accurate, up-to-date information on vaccine safety available to quell worries.