A remote northern community of 1,800 people is being overwhelmed with a surge in COVID-19 cases.
While vaccination efforts are underway and support has been sent to the area, there has been an increase of cases along the James Bay coast recently. This week, the region surpassed Timmins for the number of active COVID-19 cases.
At least three communities up the coast have declared a state of emergency.
There are currently 193 active cases in the James Bay region and 109 cases in Timmins, according to the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU).
According to Kashechewan Chief Leo Friday, out of 114 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the community, at least 77 cases are youth aged 17 and under.
"We need help, but we also need to feel that Canada has not forgotten us,” he said in a statement.
Most adults were vaccinated during Operation Remote Immunity that was undertaken in winter.
Currently, the second operation is underway in 32 remote communities to vaccinate youth aged 12 to 17 and those who haven’t received their first dose.
However, the virus is now quickly spreading among the younger population, the chief said in a news release.
“It didn’t have to be this way,” he said. “For years we have been asking for help to address our housing and infrastructure needs. We have some three-bedroom homes with 18 people living in them and others with four family groups. We are in the middle of an opioid addiction crisis as well. We are told time and again by the government to submit proposals for support, but the proposals all have been rejected or delayed.”
According to today’s news release, the community is putting up tents on the high school site to house people who need to isolate.
The chief and council has requested Canadian military support to set up a field hospital, bring in supplies and build isolation shelters in the community but the government minister haven't agreed, the statement reads.
Mushkegowuk Council’s Manager of Emergency Services Wilbert Wesley is co-ordinating support for all James Bay communities. According to him, the only large cargo plane in the area is scheduled for a four-week maintenance overhaul, leaving the remote communities dependent on small planes to bring a large shipment of supplies or equipment.
“We have started to receive offers of help from organizations like the Canadian Red Cross but it takes time to get those workers in place. We need to ensure that they are fully vaccinated, tested and have a place to stay,” he said in a statement.
