Sudbury-based COVID-19 analyst offers perspective on Kashechewan COVID-19 crisis
A Sudbury-based biostatistician says the COVID-19 positivity rate for people in Kashechewan is "incredibly" high, and getting vaccines into arms is the only way to deal with the crisis.
Ryan Imgrund, who analyzes COVID-19 data for the Ontario and Canadian governments, said a positivity rate of three per cent is alarming. In Kashechewan, it's about three times higher than that.
"So it's really, really high and just not a situation you want to be in," Imgrund said.
In raw numbers, he said the case count in the First Nation amounts to around 280 weekly cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, the positivity rate in Ontario when we went into lockdown was 80 per 100,000 people.
That's why getting everyone in the community of 1,800 vaccinated as soon as possible is key to getting the situation under control.
"We need to make sure that it's easy for people to get vaccinated as well," Imgrund said. "Sometimes, just increasing numbers is not a good strategy if you don't have a proper communication with that, as well."
One of the major issues in Kashechewan is that many young people aren't vaccinated, he said, and they make up the majority of the new cases.
"And that's why it's so important to make sure that we are immunizing the whole population," Imgrund said. "Even if we immunize around 80 per cent of the adult population, the fact that we do miss the under-12 population, you know, is concerning."
That has implications for the whole area, since the Porcupine Health Unit has not been able to enter the gradual reopening process taking place across Ontario.
"The case count is just out of control right now," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.