There are currently 29 confirmed active cases of COVID in the tri-communities. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

health update

Active COVID-19 cases slide in Air Ronge, La Ronge

Jan 28, 2022 | 4:47 PM

The weekly COVID update for Air Ronge and La Ronge shows a decrease in active cases, but Mayor Colin Ratushniak said the numbers don’t reflect reality.

“Especially because you are not required to get a PCR test anymore if you’re at home using a rapid test and you test positive,” he explained. “The reality is we’re not out of this pandemic as much as we all want to be.”

Data released Jan. 26 shows 25 current active cases in the two communities with 50 recoveries in the last seven days. There’s been a total of 507 cases since the start of the pandemic.

The weekly report issued Jan. 19 recorded a sharp rise in cases with only 13 active cases the week prior. Ratushniak noted residents need to continue to be diligent by not going into public while sick and ensure they’re not taking risks while attending public events or other group situations.

“I get it. Canadians are tired,” he said. “Hopefully, we are going to be moving to an endemic, but the reality is we’re not there yet. We just have to do our part and learn how to still continue to live with it and wash our hands, get our boosters. Do the things that we need to do that we’ve been trained over the last two years to combat this.”

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Ratushniak mentioned residents should also be proud of the high vaccinations rates in Air Ronge and La Ronge. Both communities combined have a 92 per cent first dose rate followed by 87 per cent for the second for those 12 and up. He added those in the five to 11 years range are still low with about 37 per cent receiving the first dose and 10 per cent getting the second.

With less restrictive isolation requirements coming to effect Friday, Ratushniak believes there will continue to be a decrease in health restrictions moving forward. He doesn’t think the province should move too fast, however, noting restrictions like masking and passports still serve a purpose.

“Even before COVID, everyone’s health is their own responsibility,” Ratushniak said. “I think that there’s going to be a balance. I think we do need to wait just a little bit longer maybe before we get back to normal or what our new normal is going to be.”

As of Jan. 27, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is reporting four active cases on-reserve in La Ronge. As of Jan. 14, La Ronge on-reserve had a vaccination rate of 69 per cent for the first shot and 51 per cent for second. Those numbers, however, don’t taken into account band members vaccinated off-reserve and are likely higher.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno