By Staff The Canadian Press Posted January 20, 2022 5:07 pm 3:05Hajdu outlines supports sent to Bearskin Lake, says cases ‘dropping quickly’ Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu outlined on Thursday the various supports sent so far to Bearskin Lake First Nation which had been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. She said that the “good news” was cases of people sick or isolating were both dropping quickly. The top doctor for Indigenous Services Canada says he’s cautiously optimistic the Omicron-driven wave of the pandemic may be flattening across First Nations.Dr. Tom Wong, the department’s chief public health officer, says for this to happen nationally, communities need to maintain their health measures.As of last week the department reported nearly 85 per cent of people 12 and older living on First Nations have received both their doses of vaccine to protect against COVID-19.Wong says there are communities in every region with lower-than-anticipated vaccine uptake, and so far only 20 per cent of adults on reserve have been immunized with a third booster dose. Trending Stories Story continues below advertisement The department says there are currently roughly 5,000 active cases on First Nations.Wong says now is not the time for leaders to relax health rules brought in to blunt the spread of COVID-19 because the Omicron variant is highly contagious.“There is light at the end of the tunnel — but not now,” he said during a briefing Thursday. 2:02COVID-19: Ontario sees ‘glimmers of hope’ in Omicron fight, health minister says COVID-19: Ontario sees ‘glimmers of hope’ in Omicron fight, health minister says © 2022 The Canadian Press
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