OTTAWA, ON, TRADITIONAL UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, March 24, 2022 /CNW/ - Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) commends the tireless work of community leadership and frontline healthcare workers for their immense and ongoing contributions to their communities' pandemic response. Their efforts and quick action continue to save lives.
Vaccination remains the most efficient form of protection against COVID-19. First Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country have access to vaccines through vaccine clinics, which are well underway in Indigenous communities. Now is the time to get vaccinated to protect your community, your Elders and your family.
Below are some of the latest updates from ISC for the week of March 21, 2022.
As of March 22, 2022, over 88% of individuals aged 12 and older in First Nations, Inuit and territorial communities have received a second dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and over 29% have received a third dose. Over 51% of children aged 5 to 11 have received at least one dose.
Vaccine information is updated and published on Thursdays and can be found at canada.ca/covid-vaccines-indigenous.
As of March 23, 2022, the following case counts have been reported from First Nations communities:
- 93,154 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, of which 13,420 are the Omicron variant
- 2,384 active cases
- 3,068 hospitalizations
- 90,084 recovered cases
- 686 deaths
For the week of March 17 to 23, 2022, the average daily reported active case counts dropped by 7.7% compared with the daily average of the week prior.
This is compared with
- a 6.2% decrease in average daily reported active case counts reported for the week of March 10 to 16, 2022, compared with the week prior
- an 11% decrease in average daily reported active case counts reported for the week of March 3 to 9, 2022, compared with the week prior.
Case count information is updated and published daily Monday to Friday and can be found at Canada.ca/indigenous-covid-cases.
- Kashechewan First Nation's (Ontario) RFA was approved on February 1, 2022, and subsequently extended by two weeks. A new RFA was approved on March 2, 2022, for continued Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) support; a two-week extension was approved on March 16, 2022, with an end date of at least March 30, 2022.
- Attawapiskat First Nation's (Ontario) RFA was approved on February 16, 2022, with an end date of March 16, 2022. A new RFA for continued CAF support was approved on March 16, 2022, with an end date of at least March 30, 2022.
- Kasabonika Lake First Nation's (Ontario) RFA was approved on February 25, 2022. A two-week extension of support was approved on March 10, 2022, with an end date of at least March 24, 2022. The RFA will close out on March 24, 2022, with no extension anticipated at this time.
- Deer Lake First Nation's (Ontario) RFA was approved on March 18, 2022, for CAF support until at least April 2, 2022.
- The Operation Remote Immunity 3.0 RFA was approved on November 10, 2021. The RFA will remain active until March 31, 2022, to address any unforeseen support requirements.
- Mishkeegogamang First Nation's (Ontario) RFA was approved on February 9, 2022. CAF support concluded on March 19, 2022.
Across the country, ISC regional offices and regional medical officers of health remain available to assist First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations should they require immediate assistance with an outbreak or require supports such as temporary infrastructure, rapid testing or personal protective equipment.
Indigenous communities and organizations can also continue to request needs-based funding from the Indigenous Community Support Fund. This fund provides Indigenous leadership and organizations with the flexibility needed to design and implement community-based solutions to prevent, prepare for and respond to the spread of COVID-19 within their communities.
These funds can be used for measures including, but not limited to
- support for Elders and vulnerable community members
- measures to address food insecurity, such as support for the purchase, transportation and distribution of food, and access to traditional foods through hunting and fishing
- educational and other support for children
- mental health assistance and emergency response services
- preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
ISC continues to work with Indigenous communities to collaborate, share information and co-develop Indigenous-led, distinctions-based communications and health response approaches with Indigenous partners by listening to their advice and guidance.
Operation Remote Immunity 3.0 wraps up after coordinating nearly 200 vaccine clinics in 29 remote and isolated communities
Statement from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH) on the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response
Indigenous Services Canada flowing $125M in COVID-19 public health funding directly to First Nations Communities
COVID-19: Indigenous awareness resources
Join other Indigenous people in being a #VaxChamp
Confirmed cases of COVID-19
What we are doing: By the Numbers
Epidemiological summary of COVID-19 cases in First Nations communities
Government of Canada introduces additional measures to address COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern
Indigenous Community Support Fund
Regional Medical Officers of Health
Hope for Wellness Help Line
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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada
media may contact: Alison Murphy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160, [email protected]
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