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Eden Valley flattens the curve

The First Nations community has had no new positive cases of COVID-19 since April 30.
Eden Valley 9380
Ten people in Eden Valley are fighting COVID-19 while eight have recovered from the disease. (Wheel File Photo)

No new positive cases of COVID-19 in Eden Valley since April 30 is due to ongoing efforts to keep the disease contained, according to the First Nations community’s chief administrative officer.

Hopetown Louden said diligence in social distancing, good hygiene and keeping people home helped to flatten the curve since the first positive case of COVID-19 was announced on April 23.

Eighteen Eden Valley residents have tested positive for COVID-19 in the community of about 700 people, said Louden. As of May 6, 10 cases remained active and eight people had recovered from the disease.

“The last rounds of testing have shown no positives, including myself,” said Louden. “Our numbers have plateaued. The community deserves so much credit.”

Louden said the demographics of those infected was across the board as those more susceptible to the illness, such as elders, isolated early.

When the global pandemic hit Alberta in March, Eden Valley’s council and leaders implemented strict measures to protect its residents, Louden said.

This included stationing security personnel at the community’s entrance to restrict visitor access, preventing residents from entering or leaving the community between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., allowing only individuals and small groups to shop in nearby communities, closing all non-essential facilities and enforcing strict hand washing and sanitization practices in facilities like the wellness centre and gas station.

“We’ve done everything to really limit the contagion as best we can,” said Louden. “We did everything to encourage people to stay home and not go out.”

INTERACTIVE MAP: See the latest COVID-19 statistics across Canada by province/territory on our interactive map

Eden Valley is at a higher risk of an outbreak than most communities due to multiple generations living under one roof in several homes, said Louden.

“When you have that many folks in a house and you have one case, it has the potential to affect everyone,” he said. “This could have gone like wildfire if you look at the Cargill situation and the Purolator situation.”

COVID-19 testing was brought into the community last month for elders and those with symptoms, medical issues and facing addiction. Louden said more than 100 residents have been tested.

“Testing is really critical,” he said. “We continue to have testing facilities open for people and we will continue to encourage that.”

An isolation centre has been set up at Chief Jacob Bearspaw Memorial School to treat those who test positive, with six physicians, one nurse practitioner and one pediatric physician on hand - supplied by the Primary Care Network, said Louden.

“Our medical staff is quite busy, but they’ve been a real godsend to us,” he said. “We’re so fortunate.”

Louden said Eden Valley is also fortunate in the amount of support it’s received from neighbouring communities.

Thousands of pounds of food, baby supplies and hygiene items, as well as more than 400 home-made masks, have been donated by numerous individuals and organizations after a call was put out for these items to take the pressure off those living in poverty and who have no transportation and are caring for children and elderly.

“It’s just been astounding and so rewarding to see how our neighbours have embraced us with kindness and thoughtfulness,” said Louden. “We frequently get calls with people asking, ‘Do you need anything? Please let us know.’

“Folks are always looking out for us and wanting to know what else they can do. It’s been so wonderful and we’re so grateful for the compassion and love and kindness and thoughtfulness.”

With an abundance of food donated, Louden said some has been set aside in the event of an emergency.

“Should we get to a place where we have to lock down, we have those reserves in place,” he said.

The donation of homemade masks has also been valuable, said Louden, with enough supplied to serve about half of those living in Eden Valley.

“I, myself, even got one, which I was very grateful for,” he said. “There were 10 of us in a meeting today wearing masks. They are reusable and washable and tremendous.”

The extra support has helped bolster the mood of many residents, yet Louden expects the impact of the pandemic could have a residual effect.

“For the most part everybody is doing okay, but I think what’s happened in the province in general is mirrored here in terms of what this isolation has been like for all of us and the whole sense of being cooped up, although we have more room to go for walks in and around here,” he said. “Mental health supports generally is not something that’s common in smaller communities and so those are some of the things we need to build on.”

Anyone looking to assist Eden Valley with donations can visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/244217603286115/ or email [email protected]

Tammy Rollie, OkotoksToday.ca

For updated information, follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.

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