Eden Valley residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have since recovered and the First Nations community has had no new cases in six weeks, according to officials.
“We’re very happy that everyone has recovered and I’m really pleased with our staff and how they’ve managed it all,” said Hopeton Louden, the community’s chief administrative officer, on June 3. “We’re still doing testing regularly, just like the Province continues to do testing. It’s the same rules as the Province – if they’re symptomatic they get tested.”
The first positive case of COVID-19 in Eden Valley was announced on April 23. In seven days, 18 residents in the community of about 700 people testing positive for the virus.
Louden said the cases were linked to the COVID-19 outbreak that occurred at Cargill Foods north of High River. More than 1,500 cases were linked to the meat processing plant with 945 workers testing positive.
Eden Valley has had no new positive cases of COVID-19 since April 30, yet Louden said the community is still maintaining the same strict measures it implemented in March when COVID-19 hit Alberta.
This includes 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 that have remained open like the wellness centre and gas station.
“We’re still maintaining the same rules at the checkpoints and the expectations around masks,” he said. “The practices remain the same and everyone is still vigilant, still in small groups, social distancing, practising good hygiene and staying home.”
Louden said Eden Valley citizens are at a high risk of contracting the virus due to multiple generations living under one roof in many cases.
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