The leaders of the tri-communities have written to Health Minister Paul Merriman expressing disappointment that the province is not implementing a mask mandate province-wide.
Starting today any person in a community with a population of over 5000 must wear a mask while in an indoor public setting.
This new public health order affects 59 communities and is intended to curb the spike of new COVID-19 cases experienced in all corners of Saskatchewan.
The mayors of La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band want their communities included in the mask mandate.
“It is our shared view that as COVID-19 does not discriminate those it affects based on population density, neither should our government in its protection of the residents of Saskatchewan,” the letter states.
The leaders want a full Saskatchewan-wide mask order, and that due to the proximity of the tri-communities that they be considered sufficient to be required to comply with masking requirements.
“Due to our proximity and intertwined community status. Our combined population is over 7000,” Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said.
“We are seeing a surge in numbers all over the province and all over Canada. And masking is one of the ways that we can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. It significantly reduces the spread, if you wear a mask and the other people around you are also wearing masks.”
Provincial public health officials reported 66 new COVID-19 cases in the Far North over the weekend. The Far North West identified 35, the Far North East 23 and the Far North Central eight. As of Sunday, the Far North West had 97 active COVID-19 cases, the Far North East 59 and the Far North Central 31.
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band reported 55 infections and the town of La Ronge at ten.
The First Nation does have its own masking requirements for visitors in its public buildings, but that having a provincial order would come with some enforcement behind it.
“If we have mandatory masking in our communities, we can implement a policy within our three communities saying that everyone has to wear a mask, but who will enforce it and if it’s mandatory, and it’s something that comes from the province and that way we can get help from the authorities to help enforce the mandatory masking, as it is in other communities the past 5000 people population,” Cook-Season explained.
She said she has not heard back from Minister Merriman or Ministry staff regarding the leaders letter.