APTN National News
October 26, 2020 | Sara Connors
5 new cases of COVID-19 linked to family cluster in Watson Lake area
The chief medical officer in the Yukon confirmed Monday that there are five new cases of COVID-19 in the Watson Lake area, bringing the territory’s total number of cases to 22.
On Friday, Oct. 23, Dr. Brendan Hanley said in a statement that three new cases were reported as part of a family cluster, and that those infected are self-isolating at home.
The two new cases are linked to the same household as the original three cases.
Watson Lake is home to approximately 1,400 citizens from Liard First Nation (LFN), who live in or around the area which is near the border with British Columbia.
LFN is one of four Kaska Nations.
“Of course everyone is scared, we just have to follow the guidelines they put in place for everyone’s safety,” said LFN citizen Vanessa Dickson adding that there’s fear within the community that the virus has spread.
Dickson said she’s waiting to hear of any updates from chief and council, and hopes to see a drive through testing centre for community members.
LFN member Mary Caesar said she’s worried an outbreak of the virus would be fatal for elders and people within the community who are already experiencing poor health.
“I am worried about COVID here because Watson Lake is a small town. There’s a lot of Kaska people with other health issues,” said Caesar.
“There’s a high rate of cancer and other illnesses that’s affecting Kaska people’s health.”
Liard First Nation’s chief and council said in a release Saturday that the original three cases are not Liard First Nations members and that all operation offices will be closed to the public until further notice.
A Yukon government press release states people who were in the locations in Watson Lake on the dates listed above and are experiencing symptoms should contact the Watson Lake Community Hospital at 867.536.4444 to arrange for testing.
Other Yukoners who may have been in these locations and who are experiencing symptoms should contact the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre at 867.393.3083 in Whitehorse or the community health centre in their community.
This is the fourth incidence of infection in a rural community since COVID-19 was reported in Yukon.
Hanley said the new cases are not related to travel outside of the territory, though he did speculate they might have been transmitted from someone coming from outside of the Yukon. He said the source of infection has yet to be determined.
