COVID-19 case confirmed in remote, northeastern B.C. First Nation

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A member of a First Nations community in northeastern B.C. has contracted COVID-19, prompting a ban on visitors.

The Blueberry River First Nations, about one hundred kilometres north of Fort St John, has issued a statement saying a case has been identified in the community. 

According to the statement, the person who contracted the virus “has been in contact with several individuals.”

A number of things make the isolated community vulnerable including existing health challenges among members, the long distance to adequate medical facilities, scarce emergency response resources, and limited cell and internet service.

“Urgent measures are required for the protection, health, and safety of BRFN elders, members, community residents, and staff.”

The measures include a ban on all travel to and from the territory, and requiring all people who had contact with the affected person to self-isolate.

There are 485 members of the Blueberry River First Nations, 190 of whom live on reserve.

The federal minister of Indigenous services says that even though the number of COVID-19 cases on reserves remains low, no one should be complacent.

Marc Miller told reporters during a news conference on Friday that borders and checkpoints are good for identifying people with COVID-19 entering a community, as well as making people aware of the disease, but they can lead people to believe that they are safe.

He says the remoteness of many Indigenous communities as well as aggressive measures taken by their leadership has helped keep out the coronavirus, but that the communities could be more adversely affected due to longstanding social economic inequities.

With files from the Canadian Press

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today