This checkpoint has been installed outside of Cumberland House. (Lionel Deschambeault/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

Roadblocks

Northern checkpoints rise in numbers as COVID-19 spreads

Mar 25, 2020 | 5:01 PM

The communities of Cumberland House and Southend are the latest to erect checkpoints in an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19.

In recent days, Cumberland House Cree Nation and the Northern Village of Cumberland House released a joint statement declaring and enforcing a local state of emergency. The reasons listed in the document include the speed of the virus, the limited health care services available and the number of overcrowded homes. Another reason is it’s estimated 60 per cent of residents are vulnerable due to chronic illness, asthma, pregnancies and age.

“Given that this pandemic is considered to be a worldwide outbreak of a specific disease to which people have little or no immunity, we understand it is necessary to make this decision at this time,” the statement reads. “Our province is seeing a high increase in the number of people testing positive and there continues to be residents who are not taking this matter as seriously as they should, thus requiring more stringent measures to be enforced immediately.”

On Monday, a checkpoint was installed and it appears those operating it are only allowing local and emergency traffic through the barricade.

As of Thursday, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation community of Southend will start a mandatory roadblock. A document provided to larongeNOW by Coun. Darrin Morin states only residents of Southend will be allowed in the community. The roadblock will be set up at the Cell Tower Hill and monitoring of lake access will be in place.

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The document also mentions no non-essential travel will be permitted and all community members are asked to practice self-isolation by staying at home and to avoid visiting neighbours. Those who travelled outside of Southend and who are not essential services staff are required to self-isolate for 14 days. A curfew is also in effect between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

“Essential food and cleaning supplies are accessible through local stores,” the document states. “Essential services personnel such as health, CFS, RCMP, essential supply deliveries, etc. will be exempt from this order.”

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band community of Hall Lake, Sikachu and Clam Bridge Indian Reserve 217 is also closed to the public effective March 25. Monitoring of the access road is expected to begin today and only residents, EMS, RCMP, health and delivery services will be allowed in. The Hall Lake Gas Bar will also only be allowed five customers at a time.

“Staying home with your household family is best for the time being,” a notice states. “No one has been tested in our communities as of yet, but we will be working on getting people tested when it is available to us.”

Other communities have already erected checkpoints in northern Saskatchewan such as Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation, Pinehouse Lake and Pelican Narrows.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno