COVID-19 Daily News Digest – November 1, 2020
New COVID-19 models show Canada could hit 8,000 cases a day by December
New federal projections suggest Canada needs to take stronger action immediately to keep COVID-19 under control.
The modelling indicates that if Canadians continue their current rates of contact with others, case counts could reach 8,000 per day by December.
Public health officials said a 25 per cent reduction in rates of contact could control the spread of the virus in most locations.
Covid had spared Alaska’s most remote villages. Not anymore.
Now everyone in this 700-person Indigenous community knows someone who had the coronavirus. Thirty-three residents tested positive this month, part of a wave of coronavirus cases that have shut down small towns in Alaska. Currently, more than 20 communities in western Alaska are either on strict lockdown or advised to be on one.
Indigenous and Afro-descendant voices must be front and center of COVID-19 response in the Americas, says PAHO
Representatives from PAHO, Ministries of Health and indigenous groups proposed a series of actions in the meeting to ensure that the unique needs of indigenous populations are integrated in country COVID-19 response plans. These include guidelines for quarantine and physical distancing that take into account cultural traditions and customs; the availability of information and risk communications material in indigenous languages; greater recognition of the social and environmental determinants of health; and increased and systematic collection of disaggregated data to identify priorities and monitor actions.
“Indigenous peoples are careful custodians of a wealth of traditional knowledge and practices, languages and cultures, which includes time-tested responses to crises,” said Valdez. “Investing in your health is an investment in all of our futures.”
Blood Tribe reports first case of COVID-19 at one of its schools
There are no details regarding the patient, including whether they are a staff member or a student who attends the school. The Blood Tribe is withholding information to protect the privacy of the individual.
“We also ask all to respect the privacy of this individual as they focus on their health and recovery. We know that many of you have questions and assure everyone that Blood Tribe Community Health is working quickly in their investigation,” said Pam Blood, communications and community engagement director with the Blood Tribe, in a release.
Ontario First Nations seeing the benefits of drone deliveries
While the drones do run over short distances with relatively small cargo loads in these cases, there is no set schedule on the deliveries as they can run back and forth as needed. The drones are unmanned and are fully automated outside of the loading and delivery processes, though they are monitored through DDC’s central control office.“I see a lot of remote Canada benefiting from 1/8drone services 3/8 because every province and territory has a similar amount of communities that would be quite remote and isolated. They’re not always getting the best logistical service,” Taylor said.
Quite alarming’ spike in COVID-19 cases among First Nations: officials
The spike is “quite alarming,” AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said in a news conference streamed live on Facebook on Friday.
“We know the vulnerability of our communities. We know we’re at risk in certain areas… I think it’s important to be diligent,” he said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/covid-19-first-nations-manitoba-1.5785014
Today’s coronavirus news: Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland takes COVID-19 test after app alert; Ontario reports 1,015 cases, 9 deaths; 11 cases at Scarborough school
Indigenous leaders and health professionals are warning that the second wave of COVID-19 is building quickly among First Nations on the Prairies. Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, reported Friday that 26 Indigenous communities had reported two or more active COVID-19 cases. Seventeen of those were in Manitoba
Indigenizing Halloween with fun, cultural jack-o’-lanterns
“As Indigenous people, instead of waiting for the representation we would like and deserve, we just give it to ourselves in any way we can,” said Kippenberger.
The reigning 2019-2021 Miss Indian World, a cultural goodwill ambassador of the Gathering of Nations powwow, is a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Her community, the Hollywood Reservation, has a restriction on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic but moved its annual pumpkin carving contest online. It’s the first year that Kippenberger has participated.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-pumpkin-carving-halloween-1.5783931
Yukon health officer reports first COVID-19 death
Yukon has reported its first death from COVID-19 after an outbreak in the small community of Watson Lake.
Chief medical health officer Dr. Brendan Hanley says the person who died was “older” and had underlying health conditions.
The person died at home on Thursday after showing signs of recovery about two weeks after being infected.