Paul Boucher is worried sick.
He has two daughters and six grandchildren living in Fort Resolution — the South Slave community he grew up in; the place he long called home.
On Friday, Deninu Kue First Nation chief Louis Balsillie, frustrated and concerned, took to Facebook to reveal a startling claim: COVID-19 had reached the hamlet.
The case was one of two announced by Chief Public Health Officer Kami Kandola on Thursday even, although she didn’t reveal the case was in Fort Resolution as per GNWT policy not to reveal the location of COVID-19 cases when found in small communities.
The anonymity barely lasted 12 hours.
“I’m really upset because (two) weeks ago I tried to have the road into the community with a checkstop,” wrote Balsillie in a message posted to the Deninu Kue First Nation Facebook page Friday morning.
“I was told I could not because I was not the hamlet. Yesterday the big brasses in (Yellowknife) were notified that (COVID-19) was in the community,” stated Balsillie.
“As a chief I was not notified by any officials," he wrote.
“Only this morning I was informed that, yes, there is a case here (in Fort Resolution),” stated Balsillie in his Facebook post.
News/North has reached out to Balsillie and is awaiting a reply.
“As a leader I am really upset. I’m notified after the fact. How am I supposed to help keep the community safe when I’m in the dark ?” asked Balsillie online.
“Take care of your families and pray for one another,” he continued.
Boucher, who now lives in Fort Smith, said he immediately called his daughters after seeing Balsillie’s Facebook post.
"It’s just pretty damn scary,” said Boucher.
“I’m freaked out about it because I never thought it would come to our doorstep but now it’s here,” he said.
The COVID-19-stricken resident is now in Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife – the first NWT case to require hospitalization to date.
Premier Caroline Cochrane confirmed Friday morning that the patient didn’t follow mandatory orders for returning travellers to self-isolate in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith or Inuvik – “isolation centres” meant to halt the spread of COVID-19 throughout the territory, according to health officials.
“We are conducting an investigation to determine all the circumstances with the individual. The investigation is ongoing,” said Cochrane.
The other COVID-19 case confirmed by NWT health officials Thursday is in Yellowknife -- the city’s second. The person is recovering in self-isolation at home, following a trip to Europe.
There are now four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the NWT.
Later Friday, Chief Balsillie made it clear that entry into Fort Resolution would be limited to essential visitors only.
“There will be a check stop set up outside of Fort Resolution later this afternoon at the rest area enforced by the community,” Balsillie wrote on Facebook.
“ All vehicles will be stopped and people who do not live in Fort Resolution will have to turn around except for essential service workers and grocery/fuel trucks.”
Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh MLA Steve Norn shared this video on Facebook Friday night: