Northern Health and the First Nations Health Authority continue to work with Council of the Haida Nation and municipal governments on Haida Gwaii, in response to the COVID-19 community outbreak declared on July 24th. To date, there have been a total of 26 lab-confirmed cases related to the outbreak; as of today, all but one of the cases are now considered recovered.
Northern Health public health staff continue to follow up with the remaining active case, and four close contacts, who continue to self-isolate at home and monitor for symptoms.
Community outbreak measures remain in place. Haida Gwaii residents are encouraged to continue to work together and support each other in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Public health officials will be monitoring the situation carefully over coming weeks and will declare the outbreak over when they are confident that chains of transmission have been stopped.
Of particular importance, is ensuring safe social gatherings; limiting group sizes and keeping track of who attends. Recent increases in COVID-19 transmission in many parts of BC have been linked to social gatherings and events in communities.
It also remains important that anyone experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms self-isolate, and contact their primary care provider or the NH COVID-19 Online Clinic & Info Line (1-844-645-7811) to seek testing.
There are many things you can do to help prevent additional cases of COVID-19 on Haida Gwaii. We continue to encourage all community members to:
Be Safe:
- Stay home as much as possible.
- Get tested if you are have any COVID-19 symptoms or are feeling sick.
- Maintain physical distancing of greater than two metres – this is more important than ever.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Have Safe Gatherings:
- Fewer faces in bigger spaces. Limit your gatherings to small groups and hold them outside.
- Keep gatherings to people you know and keep track of who attends, so we can contact them if someone gets infected. If you host a gathering, you are expected to have the names and contact information of those that attend.
- Limiting gathering size in private residences to six people.
Be Kind:
- Maintain the confidentiality of those who are sick or who are contacts
- Show support and caring to those who are sick or who are contacts