The Northern community of Pelican Narrows is under lockdown.
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter Beatty said the town of approximately 4000 residents took the precautionary measure over the weekend, blocking access to Sandy Bay.
The order will also monitor essential service workers and supplies on where they came from.
“Locally they’ve declared a lockdown to protect the community. That’s their way of trying to protect and slowdown the spread of that [COVID-19] into their community. There are 4000 people on the reserve there. A lot of overcrowding,” said Beatty. “If it goes into that community it’s going to take a terrible toll. So, they’ve instituted that as a proactive measure to protect the community.”
Beatty explained that other communities are considering road blockades and monitoring outside traffic.
As for a full-scale lockdown, Beatty said that decision will come on the advice of local communities, with a full council decision expected.
Beatty assured that these proactive measures are to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
The First Nation is asking residents to stay at home, keep enough distance while in public and to properly wash your hands.
Beatty said with more people staying at home food delivery services will be offered to all residents.
Beatty said he believes the First Nation is doing everything it can to protect the health of the community.