By Canadian Press

Supplies, food a concern as northern Saskatchewan deals with COVID-19 outbreak

May 8, 2020 | 1:28 PM

REGINA — Questions about access to food and supplies are emerging as health officials and community leaders work to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan’s far north.

The region has seen a spike in cases in and around the remote Dene village of La Loche, 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

Leonard Montgrand, the regional representative of Metis Nation-Saskatchewan, lives in the community and says it’s getting scary because infrastructure isn’t set up to respond to the crisis.

One of two grocery stores in the village recently closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

The company that owns the store says in a statement it will try to reopen as soon as possible.

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First Nations national chief Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has voiced concerns that people in the region are being told to stay put but don’t have access to groceries.

Some physicians and medical students in the province have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help deliver cleaning supplies and non-perishable food to La Loche. It had raised more than $10,000 as of Friday afternoon.

As of Thursday, 12 of 19 new cases of COVID-19 reported by the province were in the La Loche area. Of Saskatchewan’s 531 total cases, 167 are in the far north region. Two elders from La Loche have died.

“A lot of people are upset in the community,” Montgrand said.

“We are losing control because we are not set up with the infrastructure yet. We need to get that infrastructure set up. We need to get things in place.”

Opposition NDP Leader Ryan Meili, who recently helped deliver some supplies for La Loche residents, said it’s inappropriate for people in the area to be worried about food and supplies.

He said the Saskatchewan Party government should have seen the risk the virus posed for the area and been prepared.

“This is now the epicentre of the epidemic here,” Meili said.

“You might be hearing a bit of frustration in my voice. But it’s been really, really angering to watch the degree to which the government has been way, way behind in responding to the risk to the north and now to a real outbreak.”

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said it planned to send 300 more cleaning kits to La Loche. They were expected to arrive Friday. It also said officials are having daily meetings with leaders in the region to deal with the response.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2020

The Canadian Press