Tla’amin First Nation on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast has issued a state of emergency after confirming multiple citizens within the community have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Tla’amin Nation, located north of Powell River, says that four community members have lab-confirmed cases of the coronavirus, while a number of others are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Due to concerns of an outbreak, the state of emergency includes a shelter-in-place order for 72 hours in an attempt to reduce the risks of spreading the virus.
The order went into effect Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. and requires residents to stay home, or wherever they were at the time the order was issued, until Friday.
According to a press release, the Tla’amin Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated and the Nation is working alongside Vancouver Coastal Health and First Nations Health Authority in efforts to address the situation effectively.
The First Nation, which says it has 1,100 members – 60 per cent of which are under the age of 40 – is limiting access to one single entry point.
Safety checks are being performed on the community’s most vulnerable citizens and testing is available, according to the Tla’Amin Nation release.
The current plan is for updates to be posted at 4 p.m. each day on the Nation’s website for the duration of the state of emergency.
Tla’amin leader Hegus Clint Williams calls his community “strong and resilient,” however, suggests that the “community lockdown” is necessary to control an aggressive spread of the infection.
“We ask our community members to abide by and be respectful of this lockdown and we also ask our friends and neighbours to respect this as well, by not having any unnecessary visits within our community.”
Vancouver Coastal Health – the health authority that the Tla’amin First Nation is located – issued a warning letter Tuesday to people who attended a wake on Sept. 3 and a funeral on Sept. 4, notifying them of possible COVID-19 exposure.
Graham Cox
