The Takla Nation has issued an alert to its community after recent events in the Bulkley-Nechako had potential COVID-19 exposure.
In a written message, the Nation is asking anyone who attended the Headstone Rising at Beaver Lake on Aug. 30 and a wedding on Sept. 5 in Nak'zadli to self isolate and monitor for symptoms.
The band explains there are confirmed cases of the virus in Fort St. James and are now asking band members to limit any travel to the district.
It's also asking anyone with symptoms to be tested.
Takla Landing, where the Nation is based, is located roughly 400 km northwest of Prince George.
In the last week, and as of this publication, COVID-19 cases in northern B.C. have noticeably jumped at a fast pace and it’s catching a wider eye from the provincial health officer.
As per Dr. Bonnie Henry’s update from yesterday (Sept. 10), there are 203 total cases in Northern Health’s jurisdiction since its first positive test on March 9, which is 39 more than last Thursday (Sept. 3) and equals a 24 per cent increase.
She also reported a new regional record of 10 new cases in a 24-hour span on Thursday; the previous plateau was eight on July 22.
“We’re watching that very carefully, you know, [32 active] cases doesn’t seem like a lot in many communities, but we know the north is stretched and the resources that we have in public health to follow up with everybody is being stretched,” said Dr. Henry on what’s being done to contain any further spread of the virus, though unable to mention where those clusters are based.
“They’re working very hard and we’re working very closely with communities to make sure that we can support them in supporting individuals who are either being in isolation because they are positive or people who are in quarantine still right now and being monitored.”
Northern B.C. hosted 65 COVID-19 cases by mid-June, went 37 consecutive days without a positive test and has recorded 138 new ones since July 16.
Dr. Henry says she’d worried about the increase, but also says those stats can fluctuate, making it seem like a big problem one day then better progression the next.
“It’s one of those indicators that we do watch very very carefully, but it’s also spread out around the province. So what we’re seeing is half of the cases are in Fraser Health, but we’re also seeing people in the north and that’s concerning [...] So, when we look at what we presented and we look at the impact on our health care system and on the hospitals and ICU beds that we have and the capacity we have, we’re not at a point where we’re concerned about that, but we know as more cases happen, we are starting to see that spill over into long-term care homes and having contact with older family members. That is the warning sign for us.”
Dr. Henry has cited confidentiality numerous times during COVID-19 in order to reduce community panic.
Northern Health has also had 171 people recover and, fortunately, no one has died from the virus in the region thus far.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters
