M’Chigeeng First Nation will not likely be lightening up its COVID-19 protocols any time soon following the release by a nationally known research chair.
Yesterday afternoon, Chief Linda Debassige presented the results of a study of the community carried out by Dr. Jennifer Walker, the Canadian Research Chair in Indigenous Health out of Laurentian University.
She says the report presents three different scenarios stressing the first one – maintaining all the protocols would be the best outcome.
Over six months, it predicts COVID-19 would arrive on the First Nation and there could be 23 possible cases, two fatalities and one hospitalization.
She says the second scenario, just maintaining some physical distancing and taking down the borders could see within six months, 956 possible cases with 76 fatalities and 87 hospitalizations.
Debassige says the worst-case scenario would be to lift all protocols and according to the projection, within six months there could be 1,128 possible cases, 90 fatalities and 137 hospitalizations.
Debassige adds care packages will be distributed today and tomorrow to community members and council will also address concerns from the community over the next couple of weeks as the situation continues to evolve.
Copies of the report will be available at the post office.