Six Nations community mourns first death related to COVID-19

Six Nations of the Grand River has reported the community’s first death related to COVID-19.

The loss comes less than two weeks after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the territory on March 28.

“Given the increased risk of mortality within First Nations communities, we’ve been trying to prepare for this, but you never really can, can you?” said Elected Councils Chief Mark Hill in a Facebook post. “Our community is grieving today. Our hearts go out to the family.”

There are currently eight cases of the virus in Six Nations territory.

Public health officials are strongly urging residents to continue to practice physical distancing to prevent further cases of COVID-19.

“When all of this is over, we will hold each other close. But right now, we need to show unimaginable strength and do everything in our power to ensure we do not lose any more lives,” said Chief Hill.

Health officials have issued the following tips to avoid the spread of the virus.

• STAY AT HOME, unless it is absolutely necessary to go into public
• While in public, practice physical distancing by staying at least two metres from those around you. Wash your hands often while in public and again when you return home.
• Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub
• DO NOT touch your face with unwashed hands
• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in your home and workplace setting.
• Cough or sneeze into the elbow of your arm or a tissue. Throw the tissue into the garbage and wash your hands.
• Monitor yourself daily for symptoms; fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, headache/body aches
• Report any symptoms to the Six Nations COVID-19 Information and Assessment Centre at 1-855-977-7737 or 226-446-9909