A state of emergency is declared by officials on the Neskantaga First Nation.
The Chief and Council have issued the order in response to a large number of off-reserve members in Thunder Bay testing positive for COVID-19.
“We are experiencing an outbreak among Neskantaga First Nation members with 6% of our off-reserve membership testing positive for COVID-19,” says Chief Chris Moonias. “With 12 members being positively identified, including one in critical condition at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, we are deeply troubled by this trend we are seeing among our off-reserve membership.”
The declaration calls for Indigenous Services Canada to fund emergency housing to accommodate the homeless population who have been forced off-reserve due to a lack of housing, in order to lower their risk of contracting coronavirus and further support their health and safety.
