In total, 86.4 per cent of Air Ronge and La Ronge residents are fully vaccinated. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

staying healthy

Sharp rise in active COVID-19 cases in tri-communities, precautionary travel advisory declared

Jan 19, 2022 | 4:57 PM

There has been a sharp increase in the number of active COVID-19 cases in Air Ronge and La Ronge.

That’s according to a weekly update provided by the Northern Population Health Unit, which reports 49 active cases in the two communities as of Jan. 19. In the previous update released Jan. 12, there were only 13 active cases.

This data does not take into account positive cases in which an individual has tested positive using a rapid antigen test. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been 479 cases confirmed by PCR testing in Air Ronge and La Ronge.

As of Jan. 19, 91.8 per cent of eligible residents 12 and over have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 86.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

In response to the increase, northern medical health officers are advising all northern residents to avoid travel outside their communities unless it is essential. It is a precautionary measure that aims to protect northern residents by slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in the region.

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“This strong recommendation has been prompted by increasing COVID-19 cases numbers in the north, which are driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant,” the update states. “Many of these cases are linked to travel outside northern communities – to areas in the South and out of province, where there are currently higher rates of COVID-19 community transmission.”

The precautionary travel advisory is not a restriction under any public health order and will remain in place until the end of February 2022 at which time it will be reviewed.

In addition to the 49 cases in Air Ronge and La Ronge, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is reporting five active cases on-reserve in the La Ronge area.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno