Feds announce $2.3 million to fight northern Sask. outbreak

SASKATOON Ottawa is contributing $2.3 million toward managing the COVID -19 outbreak in Saskatchewan’s northwest.

The money announced Wednesday by Indigenous Services Canada will help fund checkpoints limiting inter-regional travel, buy supplies for people sheltering at home, address food security and enhance community capacity in the hard-hit region, which has the vast majority of Saskatchewan’s active COVID -19 cases.

The funds will be “jointly administered” among participants of the North West Saskatchewan Pandemic Response Plan, which include the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, the Metis Nation—saskatchewan as well as local, provincial and federal leaders.

As of Thursday morning, 149 of the 186 active cases in the province were in the far north, mostly in the northern village of La Loche.

The outbreak was sparked by travel from the Kearl Lake oilsands project north of Fort Mcmurray, Alta., but spread quickly within the region. Cases have also been recorded in neighbouring Clearwater River Dene Nation, Beauval and English River First Nation in Patuanak. The virus has claimed two — both in their 80s who lived at a La Loche long-term care home.

The province restricted non-critical travel to the region in late April, and checkpoints still limit travel to essential trips such as buying groceries or medication.

Northern leaders say they’ve been working hard to contain the outbreak and that the work is paying off. In recent days, recoveries have surpassed new cases in La Loche. Clearwater River Nation Chief Teddy Clark said the collaborative approach with representatives from the Metis Nation and La Loche was paying off and that people in the region were obeying health orders, leaving him optimistic they’re turning a corner in the fight against the virus.