The active COVID-19 case count has risen to nine on Walpole Island.
Officials on the First Nation reserve released the updated numbers on their COVID-19 website on Thursday, February 18, 2021, after announcing there were two active cases on February 12 and eight active cases on February 16, 2021.
Walpole Island officials said on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 that their offices and programs will begin to reopen next week.
“Our community alert level will be red based on the WIFN COVID-19 Response Plan,” Walpole Island officials said on social media.
“Flags will be posted at the monument and the Governance building to communicate the Alert Level to the community. Please look for the flags as you pass by. Also please visit the WIFN website, click on the Covid-19 tab for all community updates and information.”
Walpole Island officials have also released some details about their COVID-19 vaccination planning
“Canada has encountered numerous delays in vaccine orders from manufacturers,” Walpole Island officials say.
“This affects the rate at which WIFN receives vaccine from Lambton Public Health. As soon as we have access, we will be holding clinics. We realize that there are several band members at high risk with underlying health conditions, and First Nations people have been identified as a priority group.”
Walpole Island officials added: “Additional vaccines are awaiting approval for use in Canada. Once they are approved, vaccine should be in greater supply and more readily available. Please check the WIFN website and Facebook page, watch for flyers and mailouts and listen to CFRZ so that you are aware of the clinic schedule. The Chief is doing what he can to put political pressure on the various levels of government. Let us continue to do our part to keep our community safe. Wear your mask, practice hand hygiene, social distance and if you are not well, self- isolate and get tested.”
Walpole Island officials are asking the community to “please understand” that a lot of planning and coordination are required for the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
“The vaccines presently available in Canada are frozen and must be thawed slowly,” Walpole Island officials say.
“Once thawed they must be given within a matter of hours. We do not have a medical freezer on site so the exact number of doses that will be given at a clinic must be counted and transported by the staff of Lambton Public Health. If for any reason an individual is unable to receive a vaccination during their allotted time, someone from the stand-by list will be immunized. We will not be wasting vaccine. If you have an autoimmune disease, are taking chemotherapy, high doses of steroids or have severe allergies, please talk to your doctor before getting the shot.”
Walpole Island officials say clinics will not be run on a first come, first serve basis, but will be sequenced according to public health principles and community need using the WIFN communicable disease plan and COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.
“If you have questions regarding the vaccine, please contact us, but at this time, we do not have any clinics scheduled. Please do not call to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, but watch for further information. You may have already called the Health Centre to indicate that you want a shot. Miigwech, we used that information to determine the amount of vaccine to ‘order’ for our community. Now, we need you to watch for when we will have vaccine for you. Sequencing will be based on age and additional risk factors. We apologize for the lack of information that we are able to provide… our needles are empty.”
Officials on the First Nation reserve say there have been 45 positive cases confirmed since the pandemic began last March.
A total of 620 community tests have been administered to date, with nine results pending and 566 results coming back negative.
A total total of 35 cases have been resolved and one resident has died.
For more details, visit: https://www.walpoleislandfirstnation.ca/covid19
