The Covid-19 pandemic has made the pace of life in the small community of 奥别办飞别猫迟矛 even slower and quieter than it was before.

Sitting on the shores of Snare Lake, the Tlicho community of about 140 people is one of the most remote in the NWT, accessible only by winter road or plane, with more than 150 kilometres of wilderness separating it from the nearest community of Gameti to the west.

Along with all other schools in the territory, 奥别办飞别猫迟矛SA国际影视传媒檚 Alexis Arrowmaker School is closed, confining children to their homes during the day for their mostly paper-based assignments provided by the Tlicho Community Services Agency, said interim senior administrative officer Leeann Rabesca.

奥别办飞别猫迟矛SA国际影视传媒檚 Elders are abiding by the social distancing guidelines and staying at home. 

Its church has closed, along with the youth centre, which has been set aside as an emergency self-isolation building in case coronavirus reaches the community.

The five-room Snare Lake Lodge hotel has limited its potential customers to essential services personnel such as government officials, medical professionals and technicians, said Zia, who manages the lodge and local store Hozila NaedikSA国际影视传媒檈. She declined to provide her full name. 

SA国际影视传媒淭here is no longer room service (at the lodge),SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭here are protocols with their companies before they even come here. They've already been tested. They have to social distancing at the store and they don't have contact with the community. They just do the work they have to do when they come here.SA国际影视传媒� 

Quiet but healthy

For Madeline Judas, the community nurse at the health centre, the quietness of 奥别办飞别猫迟矛 has its benefits. 

SA国际影视传媒淓ver since (Covid) started ISA国际影视传媒檝e been posting up posters around the community and in the store explaining that if anyone isn't feeling good we can test them. The posters advise them to always wash their hands. But it seems like the community is kind of quiet. I haven't seen many people come to me. It seems people are healthy here,SA国际影视传媒� she said. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 can test the people who want (the Covid test). But I haven't seen anybody come to me. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 hardly any flu or anything like that in the community.SA国际影视传媒�

Judas is the only permanent health professional in 奥别办飞别猫迟矛. A doctor and nurse visit every six weeks. 

Less travel, no gatherings

But the slower pace of life has presented quiet difficulties for the community as well. 

The winter road closed on April 10 and the pandemic has reduced the regular six flights per week into 奥别办飞别猫迟矛 to just three, said Rabesca. It constrains the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 access to the outside world and makes people anxious when they travel. 

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 quite a change for us here. We have to wait longer to come back.SA国际影视传媒� 

The most difficult aspect of the pandemic for her is being unable to attend the funerals of loved ones. 

SA国际影视传媒淲hen people pass on we want to travel to the communities and mourn them but we canSA国际影视传媒檛. We canSA国际影视传媒檛 go to the other communities and support them. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 only immediate family (who are allowed). We canSA国际影视传媒檛 do mass gatherings. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a big change and itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard.SA国际影视传媒�

Few supply worries

Despite the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 isolation it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 faced many big problems with low supplies. 

The Tlicho Government sends out food hampers and the community government office is well-stocked with masks and gloves, said Rabesca. 

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the Tlicho Government staff members are making (masks for us),SA国际影视传媒� she added. 

The store hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 run low on any supplies except for sanitary products like hand sanitizer and bleach, said Zia.  

Sanitization protocols for public places havenSA国际影视传媒檛 phased her because she believes that health precautions like thoroughly cleaning and wiping down surfaces on a daily basis - especially in a small community - was always a good idea even before Covid.  

SA国际影视传媒淲hen you have a close knit community where everyone knows everyone else by first name the community comes first at all costs. I think everyone in 奥别办飞别猫迟矛 is doing their part and is well-educated about what to do. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e standing strong together.SA国际影视传媒�