Federal government sets millions aside for Indigenous communities as WHO declares COVID-19 pandemic – APTN News
March 11, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the allocation of $1-billion to combat the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 which the WHO has labelled a pandemic.
This figure includes $100-million, a portion of which goes toward “ongoing support for preparedness in First Nations and Inuit communities.”
“We’ve bolstered support for health services in Indigenous communities but the reality is that the number of people affected by the virus around the globe keeps climbing,” Trudeau said at a press conference Wednesday in Ottawa.
Hours later, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the viral outbreak a pandemic.
The federal and provincial government are facing questions from opposing politicians who pointed out COVID-19 could disproportionately impact many Indigenous communities.
