COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan in First Nations Communities

Executive summary

The Government of Canada's effort to address COVID-19 complements and works with the provinces' and territories' broader pandemic public health and safety measures. In this context Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is working closely with

• First Nation partners
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Health Canada
• Public Safety's Government Operations Centre
• other departments
• provincial and territorial counterparts

to protect the health and safety of First Nations and support First Nations communities in responding to the public health crisis.

The COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan in First Nations Communities provides a high-level overview of ongoing ISC efforts supporting First Nations communities to prevent, contain, and mitigate the pandemic.

The plan builds on and interprets existing pandemic plans and experience which guide ISC's COVID-19 efforts. This includes:

• Influenza Pandemic Planning Considerations in On Reserve First Nations Communities
• lessons learned from the 2009 Influenza A (also known as H1N1) pandemic

In doing so, this plan identifies:

• ISC-led COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts
• specific events or circumstances that prompt federal responses
• COVID-19 tracking and data collection efforts
• opportunities for continued participation of First Nations in mechanisms coordinating provincial, territorial, and federal emergency response measures

Due to increased COVID-19 risk factors within many First Nations communities, which increase the likelihood and potential severity of a COVID-19 outbreak, ISC's ongoing efforts are informed by a risk management approach.

ISC will update this plan as new information becomes available, for example information about distribution mechanisms and immunization campaigns to support the introduction of a vaccine, should one become available. ISC will also explore opportunities with First Nations partners to develop a COVID-19 recovery plan.

Contact us

To obtain a copy of the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan in First Nations Communities, please e-mail: InfoPubs@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca