SADDLE LAKE - Saddle Lake Cree Nation has declared a state of local emergency due to the COVID-19 global pandemic to ensure the virus does not enter the community.
The state of emergency was announced on March 25 and includes travel restrictions to ensure the virus doesn’t enter the First Nations community. Five major checkpoints have been established with security personnel, according to a Saddle Lake public notice. The checkpoints are to monitor and help track people’s movements, while also urging them to stay home, reads the notice.
“Chief and council wanted to move quickly to make sure the virus does not enter the community,” Natalie Wood, a Saddle Lake spokesperson said. “The measure was taken to protect our nation’s people.”
The Smoke Eaters, a group of local firefighters, have been running the check points, Wood said. She added, the firefighters have gone through orientation and training on taking tests and doing assessments at the check points. Wood did not specify locations, but said checkpoints are set up around the community.
There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saddle Lake, confirmed Jody Ann Halfe, a public information officer at the reserve. The steps in place have been taken to slow down traffic coming into town, she affirmed.
“We are trying to limit our own people from travelling and visiting elders, and stop them from moving around the community,” Halfe said, adding visiting and travelling can put elders at increased risk.
At the checkpoints, Halfe said people entering the community are being asked where they are coming from, especially if they are returning from hotspots such as Edmonton and Calgary.
“Our goal is to get people to stay where they are, be it Edmonton or Calgary,” she said.
Security at the checkpoints are also taking temperatures, and people allowed to enter are those providing essential services such as repairing a broken water line or if they live in the community, Halfe explained.
Anyone showing symptoms will not be allowed to enter the community, she added. Instead, the Saddle Lake Health Centre will be called out to go through a process and proceed with further steps.
“We are trying to keep everyone in the community and ask them to travel only when needed,” Halfe said.
