Access has been restricted to the Hay River Reserve because of concerns about Covid-19.
The band council of KSA国际影视传媒檃tlodeeche First Nation (KFN) announced the restrictions on May 5.
SA国际影视传媒淓ffective today, the KSA国际影视传媒檃tlodeeche First Nation will immediately be closing off the road access to the Hay River Dene Reserve for individuals who are not residents of the reserve, KFN members, or essential workers,SA国际影视传媒� the announcement states.
SA国际影视传媒淭his step is being taken proactively to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 given the uncertainty over the outbreaks in Yellowknife and northern Alberta, and the significant travel that occurs between these jurisdictions and the Hay River area,SA国际影视传媒� the announcement continued.
It noted that the restrictions will be in place until further notice.
Chief April Martel said a checkpoint went up on the morning of May 6 on the only road to the reserve off Highway 5.
Martel reiterated the concern about the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak in Yellowknife.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had a whole bunch of people that actually came to the reserve yesterday (May 5) at Ehdah Cho Store and basically were shopping and whatnot, and they were from Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd everyone was panicking.SA国际影视传媒�
Martel said the restriction on access to the reserve will be temporary, depending on how things go in Yellowknife.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just waiting to see how the numbers are in Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f the numbers start dropping in Covid and the tests come back all negative and all that, then weSA国际影视传媒檒l sit down and council will say, SA国际影视传媒極K, letSA国际影视传媒檚 lift it.SA国际影视传媒� And weSA国际影视传媒檒l allow people to come in.SA国际影视传媒�
Residents of the reserve will be able to go to Hay River and return to the reserve while the restrictions are in place.
Martel said the restrictions are largely designed to protect youth on the reserve.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have a high number of Elders in our community and I know most of them got their vaccine, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 our young kids that didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get the vaccine,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o weSA国际影视传媒檙e kind of worried about them, too.SA国际影视传媒�
The chief said there is also concern about people going to the reserve and visiting people in their homes.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just to keep the people away from the homes is what weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to do,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting a lot of visitors coming to the reserve and going to peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 houses. During this time, people shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be going to other peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 houses to visit, and we get a lot of that on the reserve. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 crazy.SA国际影视传媒�
This is the third time that restrictions have been imposed on access to the Hay River Reserve because of Covid-19.
In March of 2020, KFN erected checkpoints at the entrances to the reserve SA国际影视传媒� the main ice crossing and the access road off Highway 5. The final checkpoint was removed on May 15, mainly to lessen the negative economic impact on Ehdah Cho Store.
In July of last year, a checkpoint was temporarily re-established to keep out people driving vehicles with out-of-territory licence plates and those with high temperatures, which may indicate Covid-19.
