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Updated Public Health Measures

For immediate release

(Kahnawake – 8, Enniskó:wa/March 2022) The Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre Public Health Department and the Public Safety Commission wish to update the community on the current Public Health Measures as per Directive #65 under the Kahnawà:ke Emergency Preparedness Law.

Current Public Health Measures as per Directive # 65

These measures are for the general population.  Each essential service organization may have their respective case and contact management strategies that differ from the general population.

CASE AND CONTACT MANAGEMENT:

The testing site in Kahnawake is only currently available to essential service workers and people who are being admitted for surgery and have been requested to provide a negative test result prior to admission. However, community members can access PCR testing at testing sites in surrounding communities (ex. Chateauguay, Kirkland, Lachine). 

If you have COVID-related symptoms, you must assume that you have COVID-19 and isolate according to the following guidelines: 

CASE MANAGEMENT:
 

If you have COVID related symptoms and/or are positive from a rapid test and you are vaccinated (2 doses or more) 

  • Isolate for 5 days 
  • On day 5, if you no longer have symptoms or your symptoms are lessening, and you have not had a fever for 24 hours, you are released from isolation but must take precautions for the 5 following days by: 
  • Continuously wearing a medical-grade mask in all areas 
  • Maintaining a 2-meter distance or more from others at all times 
  • Avoiding all vulnerable people 
  • If you are returning to work, you must work away from all others and not share any common spaces 

If you have COVID-related symptoms and/or are positive from a rapid test and not vaccinated or vaccinated with 1 dose: 

  • Isolation time remains at 10 days 

CONTACT MANAGEMENT: 

DEFINITIONS: 

High-Risk Contact: A household contact or a sexual partner 

Moderate Risk Contact:  A contact for more than 15 minutes, less than 2 meters, where one of the two people was not wearing a mask or both people were not wearing a mask. 

Low-Risk Contact: A contact for more than 15 minutes, less than 2 meters, both with medical-grade masks 

Adequately Protected:  a person who has, since December 20, 2021 had one of the following:

  • A positive PCR or rapid test result
  • A high-risk contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case

Adequately protected people do not need to isolate in the case of a high-risk contact except in the case of fever; a person with fever should isolate and only resume activities once 24 hours have passed with no fever.

Partially Protected: a person is vaccinated with 2 doses or more or COVID-19 positive prior to December 20th 2022

If you are a contact of a positive case: (isolation period starts on same day as positive case)

  • A high-risk contact must isolate for 5 days. If no symptoms develop – released from isolation but must self-monitor for symptoms from day 5-10.  If you develop COVID-related symptoms at any point, you must assume that you have COVID and begin the isolation period as described above in the CASE MANAGEMENT section. 
  • A moderate risk contact must self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days, must wear a mask continuously, maintain a 2-meter distance and remain away from vulnerable people. 
  • A low-risk contact must self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days and follow regular public health measures 

Masking:

Masking remains an effective way of preventing and/or limiting COVID-19 transmission.

• Masks are still mandatory in all indoor public settings (example: pharmacy or grocery store)

• Masking is recommended in outdoor, public and private settings (example: outdoor rink, small family gathering)

• Masking in office spaces of community organizations is recommended, especially when 2-meter distancing cannot be maintained or where there are no protective barriers (plexiglass, dividers).  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.

• 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 recommended in common spaces 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, education and acceptable level of risk when deciding about distancing in their personal indoor and outdoor home environment

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

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 move towards a state of normalcy. 

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Cross-Border and International Travel Information

(Kahnawake – 13, Tsothohrhkó:wa/January 2022)

Posted at 2:30pm

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force (Task Force) would like to advise the community that due to the ever-changing nature of travel restrictions at the various ports of entry, personal travel questions/inquiries cannot be addressed by the Task Force.

“Due to the current situation with COVID-19, the Omicron Variant, and the situation regarding government requirements for cross-border travel, we are advising Kahnawa’kehró:non to research the various government websites to see the latest information and updates regarding trips over the border and abroad,” said Robyn Montour, member of the Task Force. “We understand that people want to travel and take vacations; however, be advised that any restrictions, vaccination or quarantine requirements are those of the U.S. or Canada, not Kahnawà:ke. 

Additionally, when returning to Canada, it is at the discretion of the individual border services agent to make the determination if you meet their criteria for re-entry, and/or to impose COVID-19 testing, and isolation measures.

Residents can access current COVID-19 travel restrictions and/or regulations before crossing the border by visiting the following websites:

https://ca.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-canada-3/

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/exemptions

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/answers/citizen-no-symptoms

Currently, the Task Force has not implemented a travel ban, but Kahnawa’kehró:non are being advised to consider the risks involved with traveling abroad in light of this 5th Wave.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

-30-

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NEW PCR TESTING PRIORITIES AND ISOLATION REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS

The Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre and Public Safety Commission would like to update Kahnawa’kehró:non regarding the new criteria for COVID-19 PCR testing. These changes will completely transfer responsibility for COVID-19 case management to each of you as individual community members. 

These new priorities are in effect immediately both in Kahnawà:ke and throughout Quebec. 

The testing sites are NO LONGER AVAILABLE to the general population. This means that if you have COVID-related symptoms and/or you are a contact of a positive case and/or you have received a positive rapid test result, you can no longer access a PCR testing site. Testing sites will only be available to essential service high-risk locations or by special request from Public Health. You can also access the testing site if you are being admitted for surgery and have been requested to provide a negative test result prior to admission. 

If you have COVID-related symptoms, you must assume that you have COVID-19 and isolate according to the following guidelines: 

CASE MANAGEMENT:

If you have COVID related symptoms and/or are positive from a rapid test and you are vaccinated (2 doses or more) 

  • isolate for 5 days 
  • on day 5, if you no longer have symptoms or your symptoms are lessening, and you have not had a fever for 24 hours, you are released from isolation but must take precautions for the 5 following days by: 
    • continuously wearing a medical-grade mask in all areas 
    • maintaining a 2-meter distance or more from others at all times 
    • avoiding all vulnerable people 
    • if you are returning to work, you must work away from all others and not share any common spaces 

If you have COVID-related symptoms and/or are positive from a rapid test and not vaccinated or vaccinated with 1 dose: 

  • isolation time remains at 10 days 

The difference in isolation days is related to the quick decrease in contagiousness of vaccinated vs unvaccinated individuals who have the Omicron variant. 

CONTACT MANAGEMENT: 

If you are a contact of a positive case (determined by having symptoms related to COVID-19 or from a positive rapid test): 

  • a high-risk contact who is adequately vaccinated must isolate for 5 days. If no symptoms – released from isolation but must self-monitor for symptoms from day 5-10.  If you develop COVID-related symptoms at any point, you must assume that you have COVID and begin the isolation period as described above in the CASE MANAGEMENT section. 
  • A high-risk contact who is not vaccinated must isolate for 10 days 
  • A moderate risk contact who is adequately vaccinated must self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days, must wear a mask continuously, maintain a 2-meter distance and remain away from vulnerable people 
  • A moderate risk contact who is not vaccinated must isolate for 10 days 
  • A low-risk contact (vaccinated or not) must self-monitor for symptoms and follow regular public health measures 

DEFINITIONS: 

High-Risk Contact: A household contact or a sexual partner 

Moderate Risk Contact:  A contact for more than 15 minutes, less than 2 meters, where one of the two people was not wearing a mask or both people were not wearing a mask. 

Low-Risk Contact: A contact for more than 15 minutes, less than 2 meters, both with medical-grade masks 

Adequately Vaccinated: A person who has received two or more doses of a recognized COVID-19 vaccine 

* Different criteria exist for essential service workers

Click here to view the PDF

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Vaccination Clinic dates for the New Year

The Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre and Public Safety Commission are pleased to announce that a Vaccination Clinic for COVID-19 vaccines will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, January 5 – 9am to 4:30pm
  • Friday, January 7 – 9am to 4:30pm
  • Saturday, January 8 – 9am to 4:30pm

This Vaccination Clinic is open to those 18 years and older for first, second dose or booster.

You can book your appointment as of January 4, 2022 at 1pm by clicking here.

Please note, due to the current situation in the community, and a shortage of healthcare staff, Vaccination Clinics will only be announced on a week-by-week basis.

Important Information: If you have had COVID-19, schedule your appointment 8 weeks after the beginning of your symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test.

It is also recommended that anyone under the age of 29 should receive the Pfizer vaccine as a booster/3rd dose, no matter which vaccine they received as their first or second dose, to reduce the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis.

With the number of confirmed COVID-19 variant (Delta and Omicron) cases on the rise around the world, it is recommended to get your booster or 3rd dose to enhance vaccine efficacy.

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Task Force issues visitation guidelines for holidays

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force wishes to advise the community that due to the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases (currently at 93 active, 101 total in 5th wave) and the high number of persons in isolation (estimated to be in the hundreds) within the community, it has issued Guidelines for safe visitation for the remainder of this holiday season.

The current situation is deemed critical and the risk of transmission of the virus is significant. As a result, it is imperative that community members do everything they can to keep themselves, their families, and the community as healthy and safe as possible. Therefore, the following Guidelines have been put in place:

The first and safest recommendation is to:

• Stay within your own household and have no family visits

The second recommendation, which involves increased risk, is to:

• Have one other household visit per day, between now and January 8, 2021 – while respecting Masking, Distancing, and proper Hand Hygiene at all times

Private home visits should NOT include the following:

• Parties

• Gatherings of multiple households or multiple family members from different households. More than two other households in your home at the same time is not recommended

Private home visits should NOT take place if you or someone in your household:

• Is over 70 years of age, immuno-suppressed, or otherwise at risk

• Lives with someone who is at risk or takes care of someone who is at risk

• Has COVID-19, has COVID-19-related symptoms, has been around a positive case, tested positive with a rapid test, or are awaiting test results

Home visits and increased numbers of contacts in the home increases the risk of transmitting the virus. It is the personal responsibility of each and every person to ensure that, if we have people visiting our home, the visits are conducted safely. We must all do our part to protect our most vulnerable. Working as a community, we can manage and limit the spread of COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 Testing and Isolation requirements, a list of current measures in Kahnawà:ke or When you should take a rapid test, visit www.kahnawake911.com.

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Residents asked to find an alternative COVID-19 testing site due to high demand

Due to the increased demand for COVID-19 testing and a staffing shortage, the Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force would like to inform the community that the local testing center cannot accommodate all the requests for appointments.

If you have yet to receive a confirmation of an appointment for testing from the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre,  Kahnawa’kehró:non are being advised to find an alternative testing site outside the community. For those who wish to be tested, there are several testing sites that are currently offering walk-in and appointment services on the Island of Montreal.

Please note, whether you choose to visit a walk-in testing center or make an appointment via Clic Sante, you may experience delays and long waiting times. Unfortunately, this is to be expected with the high number of COVID-19 cases in the province of Quebec.

For detailed information on COVID-19 testing sites that offer walk-in and appointments in the Montreal area, please click here.

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Increased COVID-19 Measures due to local outbreaks

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force (Task Force) and Public Health Team wish to advise the community that due to the ever-changing situation in the community, and the increasing number of positive cases, have made the decision to increase measures in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.

The following measures are effective immediately:

  • All gaming establishments/Bingo Hall  to be closed as of 1am, December 25, 2021, to January 8, 2022
  • Gyms, aesthetics services, hair salons/barbershops, massage services, and other personal care services closed until January 8, 2022
  • Churches limited attendance, restricted to residents only.
  • Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre, no visitation allowed
  • Tobacco Manufacturing closed until January 8, 2022  (tobacco retail stores to remain open)

These new measures will be reevaluated by the Task Force on January 4, 2022.

At this time, the Task Force continues to work with the Public Health team to monitor the situation and will be meeting throughout the holidays in an effort to evaluate data and current measures.

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force will provide the community with updates when required.

As of December 24, at 11am, there were 69 confirmed positive cases (as many as 39 new positive cases with the last 24 hours), 10 positive rapid tests that we are aware of, with an unknown number of people in isolation (but estimated to be in the hundreds).

Additionally, for those workers impacted by these new measures can access KERM  funding. For more information, please email Relief@mck.ca.

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding and ask all Kahnawa’kehró:non to continue following all COVID-19 measures and restrictions, limit contacts to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

For a complete list of up-to-date Measures in force, visit www.kahnawake911.com.

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Current Measures in Kahnawà:ke

Public Safety KMHC header

Updated Wednesday, January 5th at 4:30pm

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force (‘Task Force’) wishes to update the community on the current situation regarding local measures that were implemented on New Year’s Eve after the surge of positive COVID-19 cases within the community.

The Task Force met yesterday and reviewed the current measures, which will remain until at least January 22, 2022. The Task Force will meet to re-evaluate the measures on January 19.

  • Restaurants to remain closed for in-house dining, take-out and delivery only
  • Gaming establishments to remain closed
  • Personal care/Aesthetics/hair salons to remain closed
  • Gyms to remain closed
  • Indoor Sports to remain closed
  • Local businesses to remain open on Sundays during regular hours (despite Quebec’s closure of all non-essential businesses on Sundays)
  • Kahnawà:ke is for residents only between 10pm and 5am, with the exception of non-local essential service employees. The duration of this directive will coincide with Quebec’s timeline. Employers are responsible for ensuring their workers have proof of employment. Although there is no curfew for Kahnawa’kehró:non, you are subject to Quebec’s curfew should you leave the Territory, and we highly recommend that you remain in your family bubble at this time
  • Kahnawà:ke Schools re-opening date extended to Monday, January 17, to ensure school administrators have time to prepare additional safety measures
  • Funerals taking place in larger venues can accommodate up to a maximum of 25 persons or if taking place at Poissant’s up to a maximum of 10 persons at a time. It is highly recommended that visitation take place no more than two family bubbles at a time
  • All recreation areas (such as the town rink, etc.) will be limited to one household at a time
  • Travel, no restrictions imposed by Task Force
  • It is recommended to remain in your family bubble as much as possible

The only modification that was agreed upon by the Task Force was to allow tobacco manufacturing to resume operations on January 9, 2022, with new, strict measures to ensure the health and safety of employees working in the industry.

Additionally, we remind the community to remain vigilant with the increased risk of transmitting the virus at this time. Please follow all safety measures (masking, distancing, and hand hygiene) and try to limit or avoid unnecessary exposure from gathering with other households or being out in public.

For up-to-date information on measures, isolation and testing requirements, and other COVID-19 related information, visit www.kahnawake911.com.

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Kahnawake COVID-19 Testing Site to be open for three days next week

Issued at 3:32pm

(Kahnawake – 23, Tsothóhrha/December 2021)  The Public Health Team and the Public Safety Commission wish to advise the community that the COVID-19 Testing Site located at the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) will be open for three (3) days next week as opposed to the original single day.

KMHC is thankful for the staff who are willing to work during the holiday period in order to meet the needs of the community. The opening dates are as follows:

  • Tuesday, December 28
  • Wednesday, December 29
  • Thursday, December 30

Testing will be done on a first come – first served basis, but appointments are required. Telephone lines are open for appointments until 4pm today and from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday at 450-638-3930 extension 2275 or 2296.

Because there are limited resources available at this time, we are asking that only persons who are exhibiting symptoms or who have tested positive on a rapid test come for testing.

Please refer to the isolation and testing requirements on www.Kahnawake911.com for further information. 

Thanks for your attention in this important matter. We truly appreciate your cooperation and patience during this challenging time.

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Important – Emergency calls ONLY at this time

Public Safety KMHC header

22, Tsothóhrha/December 2021

The Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC), the Public Safety Commission, and the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Peacekeepers are asking community members to refrain from calling for information regarding COVID-19 testing, vaccines, travel restrictions, and general information that is NOT related to an emergency situation. This is a direct response to the influx of calls and requests for information, which are clogging phone lines and taking personnel away from other important tasks and calls.

“Unfortunately, due to the increase in confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, newly implemented measures, high demand for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, our offices are being flooded with calls for information, and due to staffing issues, we cannot answer every call or question,” said Commissioner of Public Safety, Lloyd Phillips. “We are asking Kahnawa’kehró:non to call in cases of EMERGENCIES ONLY and to monitor local media for COVID-19 information.”

For the latest information on the State of Emergency, COVID-19 vaccination clinics, COVID-19 testing, and restrictions, please visit the Kahnawake911 website by clicking here.

We want to thank you for your patience and understanding.