After months of keeping the novel coronavirus at bay, Mount Currie is dealing with its first cluster of COVID cases, the Lil’wat Nation confirmed.
After seeing its first case in mid-December, there were, at press time, 41 active cases in the community.
“We must increase our vigilance to ensure that more cases do not spread through the community,” said Lil’wat Chief Dean Nelson in a Dec. 15 video posted to the Lil’wat YouTube page after news of the first positive case.
“It is not the time for our community to suffer anymore than we already have. Please at this time, be extra vigilant in looking after yourself, your family and our elders. Be safe everyone.”
Anyone in the community who may have come in direct contact with someone who tested positive is being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from the time of exposure. Nation spokesperson and Lil’wat Business Group CEO Kerry Mehaffey said community members have also been informed that one of the individuals who tested positive attended a funeral in Mount Currie on Dec. 12.
In a recent public video posted to his Facebook page, Nelson said that, while VCH expected the number of cases to rise given the number of shared households in the community, he was concerned after several reports of infected individuals not following self-isolation directives. He said that anyone who has tested positive would not be permitted inside the Lil’wat Nation gas station or the Xit’olacw Tsipun supermarket until their isolation period is complete.
“Now is not the time to ignore the rules and put ourselves at risk,” he said, noting that tribal police will have an increased presence on New Year’s Eve to support the enforcement of public health orders.
“We know that New Year’s Eve is often a time of celebration,” added Nelson. “This year it will have to be a time for quiet reflection with people in your house.”
Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman also called on residents to do their part by limiting their movements and contacts as much as possible in order to keep their neighbours in Mount Currie safe. However, he acknowledged that isn’t as simple as it may seem given how closely linked the two communities are.
“I live about 300 yards or so from Mount Currie, quite honestly,” he said. “From the beginning, trying to understand what our backyard is and where that begins and ends has been very difficult. Right now, to protect community members as best as possible, I would definitely suggest that we limit our contacts and our movement into the community. Having said that, our communities overlap in many, many ways.”
Richman went on to say that Village staff has already been in contact with the Nation, and are willing to assist in any way possible.
“We recognize this has been a tough few months for the Lil’wat Nation, and our hearts are there and our thoughts are there with them, so anything we can do to support, we will.”
For community members that need to self-isolate outside of their home, or require any support, such as food or medication, Mehaffey said they can call 604-902-4397 to arrange drop-off.
“It will take a community effort to stop the spread,” he added in an email.
