OTTAWA – Aboriginal Services Minister Marc Miller says Aboriginal communities have faced an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
Miller says 673 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in and near First Nations communities lately.
He says indigenous communities have faced the first wave of COVID-19 with measures that have limited the spread of the virus.
The measures included final communities for foreigners, enforcing local meeting restrictions and ensuring that others complied with key health and hygiene protocols.
The reopening of schools and businesses and places where physical distance is not imaginable are all points of increase.
Perry Bellegarde, the National Head of the First Nations Assembly, says First Nations communities are among Canada’s most vulnerable populations and want more to keep them safe.
“First Nations face unique realities that require exclusive approaches,” Bellegarde said. “Those living in poverty or rural spaces want more and resources, adding social and fitness for families. “
Dr. Evan Adams, Deputy Medical Director of Health at Aboriginal Services Canada, said the biggest fear is to make sure that the more than 650 Aboriginal communities are in a position for potential COVID-19 outbreaks.
His home on Vancouver Island, the Tla’amin Nation, had more than 30 cases.
“It’s scary and scary at us,” he said. “We need you to be prepared and not afraid. “
Miller said the federal government provided a total of $2. 2 billion to Aboriginal communities. “This has been implemented in a formula on the well-being of the population and the community. “
He said the government had loosened investment systems so that Aboriginal communities had many on how to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks.
Miller said there is also a “hidden epidemic” of intellectual aptitude disorders affecting Aboriginal peoples.
“We are deploying $82. 5 million to combat the epidemic of intellectual aptitude, which has led to more Aboriginal victims than COVID during the same period.
These demanding situations add to the long-term demanding situations faced by Aboriginal peoples, adding overcrowding, lack of funds, lack of infrastructure and limited access to safe drinking water in some communities.
“All those things are aggravated through COVID, but they are still present in people’s minds,” Miller said.
He said Canadians want to recognize Aboriginal communities with a socioeconomic hole that has made them more vulnerable to COVID-19.
“The fact that they behaved incredibly well replaces the fact that this socioeconomic hole still exists. “
Adams said indigenous communities are involved in having enough non-public protective devices and whether they will have access to enough medical bodies of workers at the time of the pandemic in Canada.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep your plans dusted off and ready,” he said.
He said many other Aboriginal people can take advantage of the food and hunting season to stay outdoors, especially those living in remote and remote communities.
This Canadian Press report was first published on September 30, 2020.
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