COVID-19 cases surge over the holidays in Quebec Cree communities
CBC
Several Cree communities in northern Quebec are struggling with a serious surge in COVID-19 cases and community transmission for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Figures released late Monday show 519 positive cases of COVID-19, a jump from 319 cases reported on Dec. 31 and way up from just 34 cases reported on Dec. 24, according to the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.
"We are in a critical phase right now," said Cree Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty in an emergency livestream organized on Dec. 31, that brought together Cree Nation government officials, as well as the heads of several entities and community chiefs.
As an illustration of how fast the Omicron variant is spreading, on Dec. 21, the Cree health board was reporting just 11 active cases in the Cree communities, all of them related to travel outside Eeyou Istchee, the traditional name for the Cree territory.
"It is critical that we really follow the protocols," said Gull-Masty in the livestream. "It is a highly contagious disease."
The Cree health board has also confirmed community spread is now happening in Eeyou Istchee, meaning a link between the positive cases can no longer be tracked.
The health board delivered rapid tests over the Christmas holiday and many communities made rapid testing available.
Cree health is also asking anyone who has tested positive to help in the contact tracing, according to Doctor Colleen Fuller, a public health and preventive medicine physician with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, who also took part in the livestream.
"We now have well over a thousand people who have had contact with a person who is positive," said Fuller, adding those who test positive are now being asked to take the responsibility of reaching out to anyone they were in contact with to tell them to isolate immediately and get tested.
As of Jan. 3, there were 1,460 contacts of the positive cases identified.
"We just really do not have enough staff," said Fuller.
Cree leadership and Cree Public Health have recommended communities move back to phase one of the Cree Pandemic Plan. Phase one bans indoor and outdoor gatherings and prohibits inter-community travel, as well as reduces services to essential services only.
On Dec. 28, the coastal Cree community of Eastmain had no reported cases of COVID-19. On Dec. 30, four cases were confirmed through rapid testing and by Jan. 2, Chief Kenneth Cheezo took to social media to report there were 32 positive cases identified through rapid and PCR testing.
"This is the most important time to remain in our bubble… to remain at home as much as possible to reduce the risk and limit time of exposure," said Cheezo in the livestream shared Sunday on Facebook.
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