'They're afraid to come out': Kashechewan chief says residents are worried about soaring COVID-19 case numbers
Kashechewan, a First Nation community of 1,800 people in Ontario's far north, is getting hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a telephone interview, Chief Leo Friday told CTV News that people are scared.
"Everybody here seems to be worried … they're afraid to come out," Friday said.
Marc Miller, Canada's minister of Indigenous services, said the majority of the cases are either children under age 12 who are not eligible for a vaccine, or people under age 18 who've either had only one vaccine dose or none.
Miller also said of the almost 900 active cases on First Nation territories across the country, Kashechewan has 232 of them.
"The cases in Kashechewan form roughly a quarter of the active cases in Canada," he said.
Miller said the government is helping with funding for food and supplies, and to build isolation units for people who are ill and residing with large families. He also said more nurses and paramedics have been sent to help.
"We remain committed to working with and supporting Chief Friday and Kashechewan in this difficult time and we thank all those working on the ground tirelessly to support the community," Miller said.
But Friday said he doesn't think the isolation units will be ready until sometime next week.
"We just (got) approval on Sunday to go ahead, but we don’t even have the money yet to hire people and those people that we asked for to come in to erect these units -- the Canadian armed Forces -- I don’t think they’re here yet," Friday said.
Miller said the Moderna vaccine that was given to elders and other adults earlier this year has created a firewall, but he said the situation in Kashechewan remains alarming.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Canada Post’s newest stamp features special cookies for Islamic holiday
Canada Post’s newest specialty stamps feature “melt-in-your-mouth” desserts to mark two Islamic festivals, the crown corporation announced Thursday.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Canada's real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.