Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation identified as high COVID exposure site

Wilbert Cook is the Executive Director of the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Camp. (Photo by Mariah Caruso/ CKLB Radio.)

Due to to the recent active cases of COVID-19 identified in the territory, the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation including the camp will temporarily be closing its doors.

According to Executive Director Wilbert Cook, the camp had clients from Fort Good Hope earlier this week who had tested positive for the virus.

Cook is worried for his staff who are only partially vaccinated and the guests that rely so heavily on services.

“It was a tough decision because our friends are hungry,” he says. “A lot of them depend on the food that we give them.”

The camp is known for providing wellness services to the homeless community which will be most impacted by this closure.

Cook and eight staff all took a COVID test on Aug. 16 following the news.

All nine staff tested negative, he said.

A full extensive list of all the exposure sites identified in the territory can be found here.

“They’re loved. You know, and they feel at home when they’re at the camp,” said Cook.

About the Author

Mariah Caruso
Mariah Caruso is a digital journalist, originally from Toronto, Canada. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Hons. Bachelor of Arts and completed her Journalism post-grad at Sheridan College. She has an insatiable appetite for life, storytelling, connecting to the people, and getting to the heart of the issue. On her spare time, you can find her at your local coffee shop writing songs, poetry and prose or at the gym out-lifting men. If you have a story idea, feel free to send her an email at mariah.caruso@cklbradio.com or call 867-766-2552 Ext 108