The community of Colville Lake has declared a state of emergency in response its rising number of COVID-19 cases, Chief Wilbert Kochon said, Aug. 18.

SA国际影视传媒淓verything seems calm. Everyone is co-operating. But the numbers are rising,SA国际影视传媒� Kochon said. SA国际影视传媒淲e called a state of emergency so we can get more backup from the government, if necessary. We need people to make sure they stay in and donSA国际影视传媒檛 run around. We need to keep an eye on people.SA国际影视传媒�

There are five active cases of COVID-19 in Colville Lake, with 44 cases in Fort Good Hope, seven in Norman Wells, 12 in Yellowknife, three in D茅l谋台n臋 and one in Inuvik, according to the latest update on Aug. 17 from the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer.

The two most recent cases in Norman Wells occurred in the townSA国际影视传媒檚 Sahtu虂 Dene Necha虂 Ko 台虂Long Term Care Facility, where chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola declared an outbreak on Aug. 18.

RELATED REPORTING: Sahtu COVID-19 outbreak doubles to 70 active cases; 74 total in Northwest Territories

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Kochon believes that the infections will start to change the minds of vaccine skeptics in Colville Lake, which has the lowest vaccination rate of any community in the NWT.

Only 28 per cent of residents there have been fully vaccinated, with 44 per cent partially vaccinated, according to the most recent data posted on the COVID-19 Dashboard.

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Kochon re-iterated comments he made in May when he said that residents between the ages of 18 and 35 are reluctant to get vaccinated. He attributed their hesitancy to misinformation spread on social media.

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SA国际影视传媒淏ut now COVID-19 is here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think more young people will think about getting vaccinated. People who were against the vaccines before want to get them right now. The majority who are under 25 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been vaccinated. The people who werenSA国际影视传媒檛 vaccinated are the ones testing positive now. There are some vaccines here in the health centre. We have a couple nurses here who came in on Monday and theySA国际影视传媒檝e been busy rapid testing people.SA国际影视传媒�

He noted that even some Elders who were vaccinated have tested positive for the virus.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne is 86 and one is 80. But theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing well. They said they had a little cold, they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know it was COVID-19. A (family member) in Fort Good Hope who is 93 was medevacked to Yellowknife because he was dehydrated. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not sure if he was vaccinated. And he tested positive. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 giving the nurses a hard time now,SA国际影视传媒� Kochon said with a laugh.

SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 a very hyper Elder. I guess he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 like to sit in one spot. I guess heSA国际影视传媒檚 doing good. ISA国际影视传媒檓 happy that heSA国际影视传媒檚 good,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Kandola said in a tweet on Aug. 18 that COVID-19 infections in vaccinated individuals doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mean vaccines arenSA国际影视传媒檛 working but rather that unvaccinated individuals will have SA国际影视传媒渢en times the rate of infection of vaccinated people.SA国际影视传媒�

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Kochon urges residents to get their vaccines before infected individuals become sicker.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 real. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 up to people themselves to look at vaccinations. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not going to force them. They have to decide for themselves. We want them to do it of their own free will.SA国际影视传媒�