A coronavirus outbreak was declared this past weekend in the northern Saskatchewan community of Red Earth Cree Nation.
The Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) declared it following an increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to multiple gatherings, according to a press release on Jan. 9.
Officials are advising individuals who were at any gathering outside of their immediate household to immediately self-isolate if they have had or currently have symptoms and to call HealthLine 811 or their health clinic.
NITHA added all other individuals who are not experiencing symptoms should self-monitor for 14 days from the date of last exposure.
Red Earth Cree Nation is approximately 290 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
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Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.
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