Walpole Island going into lockdown

Walpole Island First Nation is set to go into ‘alert level five’ lockdown on Monday, March 22, 2021.

“Effective Monday March 22, 2021 at 12 a.m., the following new orders are in effect on Walpole Island,” officials on the First Nation reserve posted on social media on Sunday, March 21, 2021.

“The Walpole Island community will be moving into the Black/Lockdown alert level effective Monday morning. Elementary students will revert to remote learning, Bkejwanong Children’s Centre will suspend service, and monitored gatherings will no longer be permitted.”

Walpole Island First Nation buildings already have mitigations in place to prevent close contact among employees and the activation of Lockdown should have no direct impact on staff activities where there is no in-person programming with the public, Walpole officials say.

“Continue to take the same precautions you were taking during the Red alert level,” officials say.

“Retail outlets will also be able to continue business following the same precautions they have had in place for Red. Retail business tends to involve brief exchanges rather than prolonged close contact, and retail has not been identified as a concern for transmission when proper safety protocols are followed.”

Walpole Island officials added: “More information will be forthcoming early this week.”

As of Thursday, March 18, 2021, there were 17 active COVID-19 cases on the First Nation reserve.

Since the pandemic began last March, 82 Walpole Island residents have tested positive for the virus.

A total of 63 cases are resolved, while 778 COVID-19 tests have been completed.

There are 19 pending results currently and 677 tests have come back negative.

Two people from Walpole Island have died from COVID-19.

Walpole Island officials say if residents are experiencing symptoms, they should self-isolate immediately and call the Walpole Island Health Centre at 519-627-0765 or after hours, call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.