An Ontario First Nation is requesting military assistance amid a COVID-19 outbreak that has infected half its reserve population and has “paralyzed” daily operations.
Bearskin Lake First Nation says 174 people tested positive, including people in essential jobs with management and maintenance units for the band.
The First Nation says most homes are in quarantine and need deliveries of food, water, chopped firewood and medicine, and the community does not have space to house testing or isolation centers.
Left-handed boss Kamenawatamin says resources are being stretched to a breaking point.
Kamenawatamin says the community has asked the federal government for financial support, but the resources offered so far have been “minimal.”
The community 425 kilometers north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, declared a state of emergency last week due to the outbreak.
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Reference-globalnews.ca