Nisga’a state of local emergency lifted

The Nisga’a Lisims Government lifted its state of local emergency (SOLE).

Originally put in place on Jan. 12, the SOLE was intended to combat rising COVID-19 cases in the Nass Valley. It expired at midnight on Jan. 26, and the Nisga’a Emergency Preparedness Committee decided that an extension was not required.

“The SOLE was declared to restrict travel between Nisga’a villages and implement measures to discourage visitation outside households within Nisga’a lands,” said Anthony Moore, emergency response services manager, in a media release.

“We must remember we are still under a provincial state of local emergency that restricts gatherings of any sort.”

There were no new positive COVID-19 tests reported by the Nisga’a Health Authority on Jan. 25, 26, or 27, but the release states that checkpoints and surveillance operations will continue in all four Nisga’a villages, including daily patrols by Nigsa’a Guardians and Nisga’a Enforcement Officers who can issue fines to people contravening public health orders.

“We need to stay the course and remain in our bubbles, we will get through this pandemic if we remain vigilant,” said Eva Clayton, president of the Nisga’a Nation, in the release.

READ MORE: Nisga’a Lisims Government declares state of local emergency