After going COVID-19 free for 21 months, Kawawachikamach has its first outbreak – APTN
Jan 15, 2022
Before the holidays, Noah Swappie was looking forward to some rest and relaxation.
Now he’s in charge of feeding his community, the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach.
The remote community of 1,300 people, located on the Quebec-Labrador border, had its first-ever full lockdown due to COVID-19.
Kawawachikamach is only accessible by rail or plane.
“No matter how closely you watch on things, you know, it’s bound to happen sooner or later cause there’s always a door,” said Swappie, who manages the community’s grocery store.
The outbreak forced them to close their only grocery store, Manikin Centre, to the public.
Swappie and his staff had to get creative to keep their people fed — and help stop the spread.
“It gets chaotic, you know, sometimes,” said Swappie. “We are adapting and we are encouraging the community by social media to you know have patience with us and accept what’s going on.”
