By Roy L Hales
Cortes Island's first confirmed COVID-19 case was announced this morning.
Chief Kevin Peacey posted the following notice on the Tideline:
“I received the call today that no chief wants to hear that one of our elders here at Klahoose tested positive for COVID-19. We have a COVID team in place that is already working on our response to this. We are asking all reserve residents to stay at home “shelter in place” especially as contact tracing is still happening. No visiting households. No off reserve visitors. We are asking everyone to wear masks if having to leave the home. Food and supplies are being delivered to each household. We will be having a security team at the entrance to Tork Rd that monitors traffic at Klahoose which should be limited to only emergency and essential trips on and off reserve at this time. We are staying calm, supporting each other and following the guidelines. We are letting the wider island community know our situation to get ahead of the gossip and we will keep people updated as this unfolds. With everybody’s help, working together, we will get through this. We are praying for everyone’s protection and healing. Thank you. Emote," Peacey stated.
Looking out from the Klahoose village. Photo by Roy L Hales.
Response from some Cortes Island stores
In response to the situation:
- The Squirrel Cove General Store is closed today and will reassess the situation tomorrow.
- The Gorge Harbour store is open for Delivery and pick up only. They will deliver to anywhere on the island. To place an order call 250-935-6433 ext. 3 to place a pick up order and delivery. Hours of operation will be regularly 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- The Cortes Market and Cortes Natural Food Coop are still open for business.
Mansons Hall. Photo courtesy the Southern Cortes Community Association.
Responses to provincial health order
A number of Cortes locations were already taking measures in response to the provincial health order suspending public events and social gatherings.
Mansons Hall went into a two week close down on Nov. 20. All social events and programs, except playschool, were cancelled. The list of cancellations includes:
- Senior’s lunch
- Senior’s carpet bowling
- Literary afternoon
- Memoir writing
- Jazzersize
- Friday Market
- Wednesday Playgroup
- Qi Gong
- Thrift Store
“The post office will remain open as usual. The tenants in the building will still be using their spaces. The hall office will be open (but not to the public), please email or call if you need us. The Food Bank will still be able to make arrangements for people to pick up food. Call Samantha at 250-935-0276 if you need food,” wrote Hall manager Mary Lavelle.
“Manson’s Hall is still expecting to hold its out door Christmas Craft Fair on Dec 19. All COVID-19 guidelines will be in place and both vendors and costumers will be asked to wear masks and distance appropriately.”
The Cortes Island Museum is open Friday and Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m.
The Cortes Island library is closed to the public, but offers a takeout service. Patrons are asked to browse their catalogue online. (Click here for more details.)
The Wild Cortes exhibit at Linnaea Education Centre is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Cortes Women’s Centre is closed until the current COVID-19 regulations change. (However members still have access and messages are checked three times a week.)
Active COVID-19 cases in North Vancouver Island
From the BC government's Public Health COVID-19 Status Dashboard: 25-Nov-2020 (PublicVersion).
The number of confirmed cases in North Vancouver Island has been escalating rapidly in the past month. As of yesterday there were 15 active cases. One of which is presumably the health care worker who tested positive at Discovery Harbour long-term care home, in Campbell River, last week.
Island Health does not release statistics for the general population, and it will be about two weeks before we know how many of those other 14 cases are within the Greater Campbell River Health Area.
According to the British Columbia COVID-19 Dashboard, as of 4:30 p.m. yesterday there were 173 active cases on Vancouver Island, three of which are hospitalized. The numbers are worse province wide: there are 7,816 active cases, 371 of which are in hospitals.
The four Health Areas in North Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy of the BC Government.
Graphic taken from the British Columbia COVID -9 Dashboard.