Quebec’s Indigenous leaders welcome checkpoints designed to limit COVID-19 spread – CBC

Many First Nations would also like to see in-community testing: Grand Chief Ghislain Picard

Mar 31, 2020

Some First Nation leaders in Quebec say they are pleased with the province’s decision to forbid non-essential travel to several regions considered especially at risk from novel coronavirus.

Checkpoints to restrict access to eight regions — including many areas with high Indigenous populations, such as the Cree territory, Nunavik, Côte-Nord, and Abitibi-Témiscamingue — were put in place by the Quebec government Saturday, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The regions are considered “at risk”, according to Quebec Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault, because they are isolated, have a harder time accessing health services, or have an older population.

“It’s an announcement that has been welcomed by many of our communities,” said Grand Chief Ghislain Picard, of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/indigenous-covid-quebec-checkpoints-1.5515470