Officials on Walpole Island are urging everyone to take social distancing seriously. 
The First Nation community has declared a local state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of our staff to make sure we can continue operating our essential programs,” says James Jenkins, Director of Operations. “Programs are closed to the public, but we are ensuring that community needs are met by allocating additional resources to the Food Bank and Home and Community Care. We appreciate that the public by and large has understood the need for these measures and has taken these precautions seriously.”
Chief Dan Miskokomon says declaring a state of emergency helps to enforce how important it is to practice social distancing as well as access funding and support from outside agencies.
He says the high prevalence of underlying health conditions makes the community particularly vulnerable.