Pictured above: Northern staff members prepare hampers to be distributed to the isolated members in Fort Albany, ON

The community of Fort Albany First Nation, ON has taken rapid action in collaboration with different organizations to fight against COVID-19 and protect its residents.

Chief Robert Nakogee was informed the evening of January 7 that there was a second positive case of COVID-19 in the community, triggering an immediate lock-down.

The Chief and Council quickly implemented their plan to fight the virus and began working with various organizations as well as Peetabeck Health Services to protect the community and provide necessary support to each of the potentially infected residents. Contact tracing was carried out, and at-risk residents were asked to stay within their homes.

As part of the coordinated response, food hampers were prepared for each of the 26 households required to isolate. Northern Store Manager Robert Harasemiw was happy to take on this responsibility. He and the store staff quickly prepared and assembled the hampers, and Peetabeck Health Services delivered them to each household during that first week of January.    

“We are part of the community and we assist as much as we can,” said Harasemiw. “The community was glad to know that we’re prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to this situation – to be able to accommodate the isolated people, but also to continue providing service to the community to shop.”