The Skeena
Facing a 33 percent increase in overall confirmed positive COVID cases over the past week, the Nisga’a Lisims Government executive has decided to extend the State of Local Emergency that it declared earlier this month.
“In order to control the spread of COVID-19, we need to remain at home in our own household bubbles,” reads a statement it released on Wednesday. “We should not visit other homes for any reason. Doing so jeopardizes the health and well-being of all–especially our elderly population and those that are vulnerable due to other health conditions.”
When the NLG Executive first declared a local emergency on January 12, there were 68 total confirmed cases in the Nass Valley since December 28. That number has now jumped to 90, with 19 people still waiting on results. In total, 68 people have recovered and there are currently 21 active cases.
The Nisga’a Valley Health Authority also factored into its decision a slower-than-expected vaccine process for its elders above the age 65.
“[We] received unfortunate notification from Northern Health Authority that there is a province-wide delay in shipments which affected the Nisga’a Natoin’s allocation of the vaccination,” the release reads.
