The community of Whati, about 165 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife has become a quieter place as most residents stay home during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 drive around now and I hardly see anyone out walking,SA国际影视传媒� chief Alfonz Nitsiza said. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 see some (young people) go out to the lake and they check their (fishing) nets. I've seen some snowmobiles around. (But) thereSA国际影视传媒檚 not much to be done except stay at home.SA国际影视传媒�

Several families have gone out onto the land and to cabins that are on the islands on Lac la Martre.  

SA国际影视传媒淭hey come back for a while and then they go back out,SA国际影视传媒� Nitsiza said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have people helping others with gas and food that they want to take out onto the land.SA国际影视传媒� 

The First Nation has been telling residents to stay home, to constantly wash their hands and it has programs to deliver food to homes when necessary. 

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been talking on the radio in our language and giving them updates on how serious this virus is. We don't know how long this will last.SA国际影视传媒� 

Closures slowing activity

Offices and public places in the Tlicho community of about 500 people are closed except for the local store and health centre, which has reduced its hours. 

While access to other communities is maintained through the ice road, the closure of most offices in Whati and elsewhere has led to a reduction in the flight schedules. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e had scheduled flights six days a week, sometimes twice a day but now theySA国际影视传媒檝e decreased them to three flights per week. All the services are down. There were a lot of government people coming and going for meetings but theySA国际影视传媒檙e all done by teleconferences now,SA国际影视传媒� the chief said. 

In normal times, Whati residents would use the winter road to stock up on food in Yellowknife and sometimes in Edmonton to SA国际影视传媒渢ake off the pressure on the local store,SA国际影视传媒� Nitsiza said. 

For now the store remains well-stocked and the Tlicho regional government has stepped in to help ensure there is sufficient food by sending in food hampers. 

Residents are also staying home because several were laid off from their jobs in the diamond mines. Diavik, Gahcho Kue and Ekati have all suspended or reduced operations as a pandemic safeguard, and sent home workers. 

SA国际影视传媒淢ore than 10 people were laid off from Dominion and Gahcho Kue and Diavik (and) and theySA国际影视传媒檙e not getting paid from the mine. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e helping those employees to get access to EI and other money that might be available from the federal government. We have staff working with these people.SA国际影视传媒� 

Healthy but fearful

There is no full-time doctor in Whati but the full-time nurses in the health centre are doing well for now, Nitsiza said. 

The Tlicho Community Services Agency, based in Behchoko has plans in place to send out the proper medical personnel in case there is an outbreak. 

Still, residents are aware of their vulnerability in case the virus reaches Whati and there is fear in the community of what could happen. 

SA国际影视传媒淲ith social media people are scared all the time. Because of this virus, things are happening every week and every day and every hour. People are really trying to listen and expecting some change.

SA国际影视传媒淓specially hearing from the Elders when thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no church service in the community on Sundays. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 hard for them to take that because the Elders pray a lot. On Fridays we used to gather for rosary prayers in the evening. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 not happening. That really says a lot about the seriousness of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening. (The Elders) advise young people to pray more until this thing passes.SA国际影视传媒�