Regional News-Optimist April 2, 2020

Page 1

T H E B AT T L E F O R D S

Regional

news-optimist Serving the Battlefords since 1908

www.newsoptimist.ca

|

BATTLEFORD

Remains open for all your essentials...

FURNITURE

“Where “Wherethe thedifference difference is isworth worth the the drive” drive”

Thursday, April 2, 2020

|

Electrical

306-445-6707 www.nblukplumbing.com

Published every Thursday

Fridges, ranges, washers, dryers, microwaves, beds, lift chairs and anything else you might find essential!

COVID-19 arrives in the Battlefords

Pick up available anytime and delivery can be arranged by appointment! 306-937-7474

mail@battlefordfurniture.com

Remember When It Was OK to Travel?

Risk is everywhere: Shahab

By John Cairns Staff Reporter

News that a local area individual has died of COVID-19 has shaken the Battlefords. The death of area resident Alice Grove, 75, over the weekend was made public Tuesday not by the province or by health care officials, but by members of her family. One family member, Eleanor Widdowson, went public in saying the province should have released details about communities where there were cases of COVID-19. “People get so complacent and don’t observe all the rules,” she told CKOM/ Canadian Press. “[That’s] because they think it’s not there [in North Battleford].” To this point, the province has identified confirmed cases outside of Saskatoon and Regina by region, not by individual communities. In the early days of the emergency, the Battlefords was included in provincial reporting for the “Central” region. As of late last

week the Battlefords was grouped in the “North” region, a region that includes Prince Albert and the Melfort/Tisdale areas. A total of 37 cases had been reported by the province for this region as of Tuesday. Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer for the province, said Saturday this was being done to maintain privacy, but added specific information isn’t helpful. “It’s not helpful at all now to know where those cases are in isolated communities because the risk really is everywhere. We cannot make any change of behaviour depending on this community or that community. I cannot emphasize that point enough that we cannot use testing numbers or testing locations to guide our behaviour. It really is the same no matter where we are in Saskatchewan.” That hasn’t satisfied commenters on our Facebook page who have expressed frustration that specific numbers are not provided for the Battl-

efords: “Why can’t you actually report where this is in the communities rather than by region as that would help us be more [vigilant] don’t you think.” “Still doesn’t confirm it’s ‘in’ Battlefords. Just said Battlefords/Prince Albert area which is a huge area. Just live like it’s here.” One of the comments came from the Battlefords - Saskatchewan New Democrats, who called for more detailed reporting of cases. “We continue to call on the [Saskatchewan] government to release more information about the locations of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in accordance with the statements of Ryan Meili. People in the Battlefords (a combined community of 20,000) are learning of our first confirmed case through a death in our community. This has stoked up a lot of fear, anxiety, and rumours being spread through social media during the last 24 hours.”

An Edam alpaca rancher and her daughter made a journey to Peru last fall to witness the rounding up of a herd of wild vicuña, whose prized fibres can bing wealth to a community. In the photo are Peruvian elders waiting for the roundup, or chaccu, to start. See Carol Pool’s story and more photos on Pages 6 and 7. Photo by Wasim Muklashy

Don’t donate supplies until you read this Submitted by SHA Generosity and support during these extraordinary times is appreciated by all staff and physicians, says the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “However,” it adds, “we need the public to support us in staying safe, and that includes being conscious of donations, what we need and what we don’t.” To assure the integrity of the supplies, the SHA is asking that donations be appropriately packaged in sealed, unopened boxes. They will be accepting: • Masks

• Non-latex gloves • Disposable gowns If you have supplies that you would like to donate, please email procurement@gov.sk.ca with your information and you will be contacted with further arrangements. There will be no drop-off sites created at this time. To ensure infection and control standards, the SHA will not be accepting: • Sewn masks or gowns • Opened boxes or individual supplies The SHA also asks that donors NOT drop off any supplies directly to its fa-

SAVE 25%

K5 Insurance

North Battleford

ON A SET OF 4 TIRES APRIL 1 - 30, 2020

Do You Have

Dr. Erin Ellis

Dental Concerns?

WE DO FREE VIRTUAL CONSULTS Go to

(306)937-8473 (306)937-8473 192-4th Ave. W • Battleford

cilities. This includes any donation of food and beverages to our health-care workers. Please do not bring these to any healthcare facility, or provide these to any health-care worker to bring into work for sharing. “While we appreciate the generosity of the people of Saskatchewan, you can help our health-care workers the most right now by following the directions set out by the Government of Saskatchewan and Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab,” says the SHA.

www.maidstonedental.ca 119 Main Street | Maidstone

306.326.7777 @dr.erinellis

ƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽǀŝĚͲϭϵ KƵƚďƌĞĂŬ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĐĂŶĐĞůůĞĚ Žƌ ƉŽƐƚƉŽŶĞĚ ƐĂĨĞƚLJ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ͘ &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ ŽŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂŶĚ Ăůů Et ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ǀŝƐŝƚ

northwestcollege.ca 306.937.5100

Contact us for details of how we can help you during this time of isolation. K5Insurance.ca 306-445-8059


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.