Category: Featured Bulletin
The top bulletin to display on the Bulletin page
Starting the week of February 21, KMHC will be giving COVID-19 vaccines at the hospital BY APPOINTMENT ONLY due to limited space and safety measures presently in place.
We will be taking names and planning clinics based on need, type of vaccine and dates recommended for the next dose. Do not hesitate to call weeks in advance.
You can call the hospital at 450-638-3930 ext. 2243 to speak to someone or leave a message.
Please leave the following information to help us better serve you:
- Name on your Medicare card or legal name if you do not have a Medicare card
- Your phone number
- Date of your last vaccine or when you had COVID
- Whether it is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or booster for immunocompromised patients
Appointments will be available for the following:
- 5-11 years old – 1st and 2nd doses
- 12-17 years old – 1st and 2nd doses
- 18 years and older- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd doses.
- Immunocompromised 5-17 years old- 3rd doses 4 weeks after 2nd dose.
- Immunocompromised 18 years and older- 4th dose 3 months after their 3rd dose.
- Those who had Covid-19- 8 weeks afterwards
(Kahnawake – 27, Tsothohrhkó:wa/January 2022) The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force (‘Task Force’) wishes to provide Kahnawa’kehró:non with some important information for those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of the province of Quebec.
If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of Quebec or Canada, you will have to register with Quebec, in order to upload proof of vaccination to your vaccine passport (VaxiCode App).
To register your vaccine information, you will be required to visit a Quebec Vaccination Centre outside of Kahnawà:ke.
Please follow these steps:
- Visit the Clic Sante website by clicking here
- Under “Select a service” click on “Choose a Service” and select “COVID Vaccine – Troubleshooting”
- At the bottom of the pop-up window to the right side of the screen, select “Choose this Service”
- Enter your postal code and click on “Search”
- A list of nearby Quebec Vaccination Centres will be displayed.
- Select a location and click on the “Show More” button and select “vaccines received outside Quebec”
- Click on the “Book”
Please note, this information is being provided as a service to community members. However, the Task Force and the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre are unable to register COVID-19 vaccines, including those received outside of the province. For more information, please click here.
Public Health and testing sites are overrun. All COVID-19 services within Kahnawà:ke and outside of Kahnawà:ke are unable to respond to demand at the current time. Here is important information to assist you in making a decision about your response based on today’s most up-to-date Public Health information (this can change quickly):
If you have received a positive result using a rapid test:
- You must isolate for ten (10) days from the first day of symptoms
- All household members must also isolate for ten (10) days.
- You must advise your contacts that they should also isolate for ten (10) days if you were not wearing masks during your contact and your contact was more than ten (10) minutes
If you are a contact of a positive case outside of your household:
- A high-risk contact is someone who is within two (2) meters for more than ten (10) minutes without a mask
- If you are a high-risk contact of someone who received a positive COVID-19 result by rapid test or PCR, you MUST self-isolate for ten (10) days. If you develop symptoms only (do not test if you have no symptoms), please do a PCR test. If you are unable to do a PCR, please do a rapid test.
- You must remain in isolation for ten (10) days no matter the result of your test if you are a high-risk contact of a positive case
Click here for the Home Isolation Procedure. Our main goal at this time is to work together to protect the community, our most vulnerable loved ones, and our essential service organizations
As of today, (Tsothóhrha/December 21st, 2021) Kahnawà:ke’s Public Health Team will no longer be calling contacts of positive cases.
Due to the global drastic increase in active cases both in Quebec and Kahnawake, immediate changes are required to manage COVID-19 cases and contacts.
Responsibility is being fully transferred to individuals. Community members can expect the following when identified as positive by a PCR lab test:
- once a positive case is identified by the laboratory, regional public health will contact the community member to advise them of the positive result
- the local (Kahnawà:ke) Public Health team will then be advised and will contact the community member to follow-up
- a member of the local Public Health team will assist the positive case in identifying their contacts
- the positive case will receive a generic letter for themselves, and for their contacts, that can be seen by clicking here
- the local Public Health team will no longer call contacts – it is now the responsibility of the positive case to advise their contacts and it is the responsibility of the person advised to self-isolate when required by following the letter provided to them. To view an example click here.
- Each community member must take action and be part of the solution
Reminders:
- testing sites are very busy. We are only getting results in 72 hours average. Please make sure to isolate until you get your result even if you are feeling better
- only get tested if you have symptoms – many testing sites are sending people home with a rapid test and told to come back only if positive to validate with a PCR
- a negative rapid test is not a certain negative. If symptoms persist, please get retested with a PCR test
Holiday Hours:
- The Kahnawà:ke testing site is open the following days over the holiday period:
- Wednesday December 22nd
- Wednesday December 29th
- Wednesday January 5th
- The vaccination site will not be open over the holiday period. The last day to schedule boosters before the holidays is Wednesday, December 22nd. No walk-ins. Please book an appointment through clic-sante that you can access through Kahnawake 911. Reminder: over 6000 people had their 2 doses in Kahnawake. We cannot vaccinate that many people with boosters all at once. Booster vaccinations will take several weeks to complete, and possibly longer.
Despite the fact that this is a busy time, the staff of the testing site and vaccination site absolutely need some time off over this holiday period in order to continue to provide service to the community. We thank you for being understanding and kind towards the staff who have given 100% percent of themselves to the community since day 1 of this pandemic. We also urge you to be kind to each other. Let’s make Facebook a place of joy and comfort and support rather than a place for lateral violence. We can all make the change. By supporting each other, taking care of each other, we can get through this 5th wave together.
IMPORTANT- Please note that these measures are currently being amended and are no longer considered up to date. (1:15pm 2021-12-22)
Kahnawà:ke’s Public Health Team and Public Safety are announcing new measures to address the rapid increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the region. These measures are effective immediately:
EDUCATION:
- 1/2 day of school today (Tuesday)
- no holiday parties permitted
- return on January 11th, teachers return on 10th
SPORTS:
- all sports suspended
- no practices/games/tournaments
SOCIAL CLUBS:
- 50% capacity
- no parties and no rentals allowed
- customers have to be sitting
- distance of at least 4 meters between tables
- no one sitting at the bar
- vaccination measures
- closure at 10pm
BARS, CIGAR LOUNGE AND RESTAURANTS:
- 50% capacity
- customers have to be sitting
- distance of at least 4 meters between tables
- no one sitting at the bar
- vaccination measures
- no parties or rental of space for parties
- closure at 10pm
GAMING:
- 50% capacity
- no parties and no rentals allowed
- customers have to be sitting
- no food or drink in gaming area
- vaccination measures
- hours of operation: opening at 6am, closure at 1am
GYMNASIUMS:
- 50% capacity
- maintain all previous measures
VISITATION AT KATERI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CENTER, TURTLE BAY ELDERS LODGE AND ILC:
- 2 visitors maximum per day, with only 1 person visiting at a time
- no visitors in common areas – only in resident’s room
- KMHC residents will only able to leave on day visits upon special permission from management
- vaccination measures
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
- all to work from home as much as possible
OUTSIDE HOSPITALS:
- visitation no longer allowed in hospitals
- one natural caregiver at a time, with maximum of 2 per day
The most important point at this time is to protect yourself and your loved ones. The way to do this is to reduce your contacts! Make decisions about what is important and who you want to see so that you protect yourself and your family. Remember all that we have learned since the beginning of this pandemic: hygiene, distance, vaccinations and boosters, rapid tests and testing, isolation, masks (no cloth masks at this time) at all times when outside of your household.
(No longer valid 2022-01-17)
Symptomatic Individuals:
- Individuals with COVID-like symptoms, whether vaccinated or not, are required to self-isolate and are required to be tested for COVID-19 at the KMHC testing site (preferable) or another testing site (Chateauguay is best following Kahnawake to ensure faster results)
- Change to COVID-19 symptoms: Runny nose and/or congestion is once again a COVID-19 symptom. If runny nose or congestion of unknown cause and a second symptom, please get tested for COVID-19.
- KMHC testing site presently opened on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Make an appointment by calling 450-638-3930 ext. 2296 or ext. 2275.
- Persons over 6 years of age may now get tested with a gargle test if you present to the testing site within the first 7 days of symptoms. You must have symptoms at time of test or test will not be reliable.
- Chateauguay testing site: 167 Maple Boulevard, 1-877-644-4545. Appointment required.
- Testing sites are overloaded at the present time. Please only get tested if you meet the criteria in order to not overload the system. Currently, results are only coming in within 48-72 hours which limits our ability to isolate contacts within a reasonable time frame.
Please see symptom list/self-monitoring info at the bottom of this document.
- Contacts of positive cases only need to be tested if they develop symptoms. Effective immediately, Public Health will not ask you to be tested if you are a contact who is vaccinated, with no symptoms.
Contact Tracing:
- Fully vaccinated individuals (7 days post 2nd dose), do not need to self-isolate if in contact with a positive case (some exceptions possible as recommended by Public Health)
- However, if fully vaccinated and in contact with a positive case, Public Health requires that you self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms daily over a period of 14 days. If you develop symptoms, self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19. (some exceptions possible as recommended by Public Heath)
- All Kahnawake businesses and restaurants must maintain a registry of people who enter and leave the premises. Public Health requires first and last name of each individual, their phone number and time of entry and departure
- A positive Rapid Test should be validated by a PCR test at a COVID-19 testing facility
- Any community member who received a positive result from a private rapid test is asked to advise the Local Public Health team of this positive result. This result will not be “recognized” by Public Health unless validated by a PCR. This is important to have the infection recognized, especially if you intend to travel internationally.
- Each community member is asked to provide full, accurate, truthful information to the local public health team when questioned in order to control the spread of COVID-19 and limit outbreaks. Withholding information hampers the ability of the local public health team to do their job.
- Public health (Regionally and locally), no longer have the capacity to contact trace due to large amount of contacts for each individual case. Effective immediately, it is the positive case who will have the responsibility to advise his/her contacts, with the assistance of Public Health (generic letter to be provided for contacts of positive case).
Masking:
- Masks are still mandatory in all indoor public settings (example: pharmacy or grocery store)
- Masking is no longer required in outdoor, public and private settings (example: ball field, small family gathering) if fully vaccinated but it is still recommended due to high transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 variants. If partially vaccinated or not vaccinated, wearing a mask is recommended at all times but especially when 2-meter distance cannot be maintained. Masking is highly recommended when in outdoor settings where vaccination status is unknown.
- Masking in office spaces of community organizations is required even when in a seated area and where 2-meter distancing can be maintained OR where protective barriers are in place (plexiglass, dividers) due to high transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 variants. Examples are: meeting/conference rooms in organizations such as MCK, KMHC or KSCS; group offices. Masks remain mandatory in all common areas when moving from one area to another.
- Masks are highly recommended in indoor private settings whether vaccinated or not due to high transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 variants. Immunocompromised individuals who are fully vaccinated should wear masks at all times when in private settings.
- Public Health recommends that individuals use their judgement, knowledge and education and acceptable level of risk when deciding about masking in their personal indoor and outdoor home environment
Distancing:
- 2-meter distancing is recommended in indoor and outdoor public settings
- 2-meter distancing is required in private areas of community organizations
- 2-meter distancing is recommended in outdoor public and private settings and especially if you are a vulnerable person whether vaccinated or not
- Public Health recommends that individuals use their judgement, knowledge and education and acceptable level of risk when deciding about distancing in their personal indoor and outdoor home environment
Vaccination Measures:
- Proof of vaccination measures required in non-essential businesses (restaurants, bars and social clubs)
- Boosters are available to all individuals in Kahnawake 18+ and are highly recommended for protection against the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, 3 months after second dose.
Ventilation:
- Ventilation is important. Air out rooms every two hours by opening all windows in private areas or your home when gathering with people outside your household.
- Use of HEPA filters is beneficial
Symptom Monitoring Log
PART 1: Do you have seasonal allergies? If yes, take your allergy medications each day.
| A. Do you have the following symptoms in the last 24 hours? | Check if YES |
| New cough or worsening chronic cough | |
| Fever/Chills | |
| Difficulty breathing | |
| Sudden lack of taste or smell without nasal congestion | |
| Sore throat | |
| One (1) or more of the above symptoms in the last 24 hours = stay home, self-isolate and call for testing | |
| B. Do you have the following other symptoms in the last 24 hours? | Check if YES |
| New onset headache | |
| New onset pain (muscular, chest, abdomen, joints) not related to exercise | |
| Runny nose or nasal congestion of unknown cause | |
| New intense fatigue | |
| New severe loss in appetite | |
| Abdominal pain | |
| A gastrointestinal symptom (diarrhea, nausea or vomiting) | |
| Two (2) or more of the above symptoms in the last 24 hours = stay home, self-isolate and call for testing |
Your well-being and your mental health are important! If you require support, please speak to a trusted friend or colleague; seek out assistance through KSCS or 811 Psychosocial
We have the knowledge to control our own safety. Hand-washing, distance, proper ventilation, masks, testing (rapid tests and PCR tests), staying home when sick, vaccination, isolation, limiting our contacts, taking care of the well-being of our loved ones and ourselves, are all ways to get through this next phase safely. Together, we can make a difference!
REMINDER – Vaccination Clinics this week
(Kahnawake – 27, Ohiarihkó:wa/July 2021)
The Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) wishes to remind Kahnawa’kehró:non that the following Vaccination Clinics are taking place this week at the Kahnawake Sports Complex:
- Wednesday, July 28 and Thursday, 29 from 9am – 4:30pm: Pfizer 2nd doses and 1st doses if anyone is interested
- Friday, July 30 from 9am – 4:30pm: Moderna 2nd doses and 1st doses if anyone is interested
Appointments are preferred by calling the KMHC at 450-638-3930, extension 2295. However, walk-ins are welcome while vaccine supplies are available.
The most recent cluster of cases is related to the DELTA variant. From the analysis of this cluster, Public Health has learned that this variant causes a more widespread transmission at a much quicker pace. Double vaccination is demonstrated in the literature to be most effective in protecting individuals from hospitalization and death, especially in the face of COVID-19 variants.
If you are interested in reading more about recent studies regarding vaccination, visit the COVID-19 Messenger RNA Vaccine page on the Quebec Health portal.
Current Public Health Measures as of July 20, 2021 as per Directive # 65
(updates/modifications highlighted in yellow)
Symptomatic Individuals:
- Individuals with COVID-like symptoms, whether vaccinated or not, are required to self-isolate and are required to be tested for COVID-19 at the KMHC testing site (preferable) or another testing site (Chateauguay is best following Kahnawake to ensure faster results)
- Change to COVID-19 symptoms: Runny nose and/or congestion is no longer a COVID-19 symptom. Therefore, testing not required for runny nose and/or congestion. (Especially important in daycare or school settings. Your child can attend daycare if only presenting with a runny nose and no other symptoms).
- KMHC testing site presently opened on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Make an appointment by calling 450-638-3930 ext. 2296 or ext. 2275.
- Persons over 6 years of age may now get tested with a gargle test if you present to the testing site within the first 7 days of symptoms. You must have symptoms at time of test or test will not be reliable.
• Chateauguay testing site: 167 Maple Boulevard, 1-877-644-4545. Appointment required.
Contact Tracing:
• Fully vaccinated individuals (7 days post 2nd dose), will no longer be asked to self-isolate if in contact with a positive case (some exceptions possible as recommended by Public Health)
• However, if fully vaccinated and in contact with a positive case, Public Health requires that you self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms daily over a period of 14 days. If you develop symptoms, self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
- All Kahnawake businesses and restaurants must maintain a registry of people who enter and leave the premises. Public Health requires first and last name of each individual, their phone number and time of entry and departure
Masking:
• Masks are still mandatory in all indoor public settings (example: pharmacy or grocery store)
• Masking is no longer required in outdoor, public and private settings (example: ball field, small family gathering) if fully vaccinated. If partially vaccinated or not vaccinated, wearing a mask is recommended when 2-meter distance cannot be maintained.
• Masking in office spaces of community organizations are no longer required when in a seated area and where 2-meter distancing can be maintained OR where protective barriers are in place (plexiglass, dividers). Examples are: meeting/conference rooms in organizations such as MCK, KMHC or KSCS; group offices; classrooms in Kahnawake schools. Masks remain mandatory in all common areas when moving from one area to another.
• Masks are not required in indoor private settings if fully vaccinated and agreed upon by all participants (this includes in a person’s private vehicle). Immunocompromised individuals who are fully vaccinated should still wear masks when in private settings.
• Public Health recommends that individuals use their judgement, knowledge and education and acceptable level of risk when deciding about masking in their personal indoor and outdoor home environment
Distancing:
• 2-meter distancing is required in indoor public settings and in private areas of community organizations, if not fully vaccinated
• 2-meter distancing is recommended in outdoor public settings, if not fully vaccinated and especially if you are vulnerable person and not fully vaccinated
- 2-meter distancing is not required in outdoor private settings if everyone is comfortable with that decision.
• Public Health recommends that individuals use their judgement, knowledge and education and acceptable level of risk when deciding about distancing in their personal indoor and outdoor home environment
The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force (Task Force) is pleased to announce new guidelines for outdoor recreational activities and outdoor gatherings. The new guidelines are in place to promote mental health through safe and responsible outdoor activities.
The Task Force is directing that a maximum of four (4) individuals from four different households participate in activities (example: four friends playing hockey). Additionally, a maximum of two households can participate together for outdoor activities. In all instances COVID-19 safety measures of masks, hygiene, and distance should be respected at all times.
Activities
- Outdoor and private rinks
- Sliding at the golf course
- Snowshoeing, walks and cross country skiing
In addition, the skating surface at Onake will be open and maintained until the end of February by the Kahnawake Youth Center.
We would like to remind the community that when indoors, a maximum of two households only can gather while respecting distance, hygiene and masks.
All Task Force Directives currently in effect can be viewed at www.kahnawake911.com/directives.