SADDLE LAKE - With just one active case in the community, the efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 on Saddle Lake Cree Nation have been ongoing and effective over the first few months of the year.
But on April 13, the Nation reported its one active case was the the B.1.1.7. (UK) variant.
Just a couple weeks earlier, on March 30, the Nation reported zero active cases in the community, which continued until April 8, when one case was reported. This decrease was notable following a large spike in cases in late 2020.
On Tuesday, a letter from the Saddle Lake Health Care Centre confirmed the one active case in the community was a variant of concern.
"The Saddle Lake Health Care Centre (SLHCC) Contract Tracing team has been working closely with the Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and Communicable Disease Control (CDC) for a complete investigation of this case, which includes contact tracing, testing of close contact and case management," reads the letter.
The confirmed case and all close contacts have been contacted and are completing the mandatory quarantine period, according to the SLHCC. As of April 12, variants of concern represented about half of all active COVID-19 cases in the province.
Saddle Lake has been posting reports of active cases in the community publicly, throughout the pandemic. The letter states the Nation will report variant cases, going forward.
The variant strains have been found to be more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain.
It is strongly recommended that anyone who tests positive for the variant strain isolate outside of their household, when possible, according to the letter from SLHCC. All contacts will be offered testing when they are contacted, and again 10 days after exposure.
Although the variant can be more contagious, it is spread in the same manor, so all original precautions are encouraged, such as wearing a mask, good hand hygiene, physical distancing, limiting the number of contacts to a person's immediate household, staying home when sick, getting tested when sick, and following all isolation and quarantine requirements.
Vaccinations ongoing
Vaccinations have been ongoing in Saddle Lake. As of April 13, an update noted that 861 Moderna vaccines had been administered in the community, so far.
Drive-thru vaccine and testing is open this week, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday. And on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Moderna vaccine is meant for ages 18 and up.
"Immunization is one of the most important measures that can be taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 over the long-term, and for the protection of the most vulnerable members of the community. Once 80 per cent of adults in the community receive the vaccine, there is a much better chance of limiting widespread outbreaks of COVID-19," according to the letter from SLHCC.
