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Kamloops  

City, First Nation working together during COVID-19

Local leaders share video

The leaders of the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc (TteS) have issued a video statement to citizens living both in the municipality and on the reserve.

"We wanted to give you a joint message, that social distancing applies on both sides of the river," says Mayor Ken Christian in the clip.

"This virus doesn't know any boundary and we want to jointly tell the citizens within our respective jurisdictions that you must use social distancing," he adds.

The two governments are working together, he says, on multiple levels. Both emergency operations centres are open and in contact; the Kamloops and Kamloops Rural RCMP detachments are helping each other; and TteS has been teleconferencing with other First Nations communities in the area.

"During these difficult times, we encourage all of the public to stay calm, to be careful and to take each day in a safe way," Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says in the video. "We also want to reiterate the importance that the youth are following the same recommendations."

Casimir expressed concern young people may not take the COVID-19 pandemic as seriously as others since it affects older people more. She reminds people that they may pass it on to loved ones or others in the community.

"It is only together we can flatten the curve," she says.

Both leaders are encouraging people to listen to the advice of B.C.'s medical health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.



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