Siksika Nation Chief Ouray Crowfoot gave the community an update on June 13 as to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are seven cases of COVID-19 on the First Nation.

Siksika Nation’s has investigated 505 suspected cases and completed 439 tests on those under investigation. Total tests to date are 1042.

According to Siksika Health Services, there are 19 individuals or households that are under isolation, which includes seven COVID positive people linked to Siksika Nation and six of those were identified by Siksika testing. Two cases are currently on reserve.

“To date, seven positive individuals have been identified with links to Siksika Nation,” said Chief Crowfoot. “Six of those individuals were identified by tests carried out on the Nation. Two of those individuals are presently on the reserve. Nineteen individuals or households are in isolation, five of those being off-reserve,” he said.

He called for those awaiting test results to please be patient, as the First Nation is experiencing high volumes of tests this week.

“Our health services team is working diligently to contain further spread and to support all families who are affected.”

He explained that if people feel sick they should stay home and arrange for testing.

And that testing is available by drive-thru between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily or by calling the COVID-19 Response Unit, seven days a week.

“Siksika, we are all in this together, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure the health and safety of all Siksika Nation members. This remains our priority today and every day,” he said.

He asked Nation members to practice social distancing, hand-wash regularly, and to use precautionary measures when leaving and returning to the reserve.