General public well being officers in northern Quebec are racing to comprise an outbreak of COVID-19 joined to a number of visits and functions above the new yr in the Cree local community of Oujé-Bougoumou. 

At minimum 11 conditions of COVID-19 have been identified so much linked to gatherings among Dec. 31 and Jan. 7. 

“We also have quite a variety of supplemental people today who ended up discovered as becoming in those people options or in immediate speak to with these people … they could be infectious to other individuals,” claimed Colleen Fuller, a community wellness doctor and infectious illness coordinator with the Cree Board of  Health and Social Services of James Bay.

“And so quite a few of people persons have now been tested and other people will be tested around the training course of today and tomorrow.”

Fuller claimed as of Friday, some 25 folks had been discovered as shut contacts of the verified cases and another 60 discovered as small contacts.

She also stated she expects these quantities to raise in the coming days. Some of the contacts linked to the gatherings in Oujé-Bougoumou are self-isolating in other communities and are getting analyzed for the virus, according to Fuller.

The instances are all joined to 1 unique, who was verified yesterday as the 20th case of COVID-19 in the Cree communities since the pandemic commenced in March.

Public overall health officers say the individual most likely caught the virus by a customer who arrived from a region of hazard, although they are continuing to examine other prospective exposures. 

Steps staying applied

Officers are asking any person who attended get-togethers or gatherings in Oujé-Bougoumou in between Dec. 31 and Jan. 7  to promptly self-isolate and contact the COVID-19 info like at 1-866-855-2811. 

The local community of 950 has also moved into a normal lockdown and imposed a curfew. 

The curfew is in spot from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. right up until January 12th, at which time the want will be reassessed, according to a information issued Friday by the community’s chief. 

Curtis Bosum is the Main of Oujé-Bougoumou. (Cree local community of Oujé-Bougoumou)

“It is very essential to community customers continue being quiet, self-assured and vigilant,” stated Chief Curtis Bosum in a launch. 

“We have to be serene so that we can reassure the youngsters and the susceptible of our neighborhood.” 

Oujé-Bougoumou isn’t going to have a grocery keep, so residents need to travel to nearby non-Cree cities, these as Chibougamau and Chapais. 

On Friday afternoon, Deputy Chief Lance Cooper posted a message to Fb asking residents to limit outings to these regions to essential supplies only and for only one particular man or woman per home to go.

Daycares will continue being open up only for necessary employees and all social gatherings are forbidden. The community band office is furnishing more assistance for people who have difficulty obtaining groceries. Any individual needing aid is asked to call 418-770-1227.

Colleges are shut in Oujé-Bougoumou for in-class discovering, in accordance to band officials. The Cree School Board also declared Friday afternoon that most in-class mastering will be suspended in the nearby Cree communities of Mistissini and Waswanipi.

The exception, according to a release from the Cree College Board is grade 10 and 11 students (sec. 4 and 5). They will have in-course understanding on alternating times.

General public wellness officials are continuing to contact trace persons connected to this occasion, which provides the full of COVID-19 conditions in the Cree communities to 31.

The nearby medical clinic in Oujé-Bougoumou has reduced services to emergencies only so COVID-19 testing can be prioritized.

Cree management issued a unique bulletin Friday afternoon indicating it is essential for individuals in all the Cree communities to follow the COVID-19 measures and not have gatherings. 

“The current bounce in situations is proof that we are not able to enable our guard down,” mentioned the concept.



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