The Lac La Ronge Indian Band will be keeping all current COVID-19 restrictions in place, including the proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate and masking.

This decision comes after the province scrapped proof of vaccination and is planning on dropping all other restrictions by the end of February.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said the band’s council of Elders were present when the decision was made Tuesday.

“They (the Elders) all spoke about keeping the restrictions in place for the safety of the community,” she said. “All our Elders spoke about (that) we still have the Omicron variant that’s spreading really fast in our communities.”

Cook-Searson said they also pointed to hospitalization rates in the north.    

It was an unanimous vote around the council table as all council members voted to keep the restrictions in place.

Cook-Searson said, for her, the decision was made, “for the safety of the community.”

She says they will be reviewing their decision at their next meeting in March.

(PHOTO: Lac La Ronge Indian Band logo. File photo.)