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COVID-19: Port Alberni’s Tseshaht First Nation declares state of emergency

State of emergency will remain in effect until at least June 30
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The Tseshaht First Nation administration building is currently closed. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)

The Tseshaht First Nation in the Alberni Valley has declared a state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state of emergency, announced on Friday, March 20, will remain in effect until at least June 30, 2020, and may be extended.

Tseshaht has closed all its public buildings including its administration building, Haahuupayak School and the Tseshaht Daycare. All playgrounds are closed.

Access to the Tseshaht Cemetery and Paper Mill Dam Park is being restricted to groups of two only.

The Tseshaht Market and Orange Bridge Cannabis store are reducing their hours and implementing physical distancing.

On March 26, the provincial government announced measures that superceded any community state of emergency declarations around the province in order to streamline and coordinate response. However, exceptions to those measures were made for the City of Vancouver and for First Nations.

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