(Kahnawake – 3, Enníska/February 2022) The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force would like to remind the community that Rapid Testing Kits are still available for Kahnawa’kehró:non.
The kits are available for pick-up, until 5pm today (Thursday). They will be distributed “Drive-thru” style at the Knights of Columbus Hall parking lot.
The last day to pick up your kits will be Friday, from 9am to 5pm (while supplies last).
Please note the following:
· Each household will be entitled to one box per-individual
· Each box contains 5 Rapid Tests.
For more information on COVID-19 Rapid Tests, vaccines, restrictions, and measures, please visit www.Kahnawake911.com.
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.
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!
Updated Public Health Measures as of August 5th, 2021
For immediate release
(Kahnawake – 5, Seskéha/August 2021) The Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre Public Health Department and the Public Safety Commission wish to update the community on the changes made to the Public Health Measures as per Directive #65 under the Kahnawake emergency Preparedness Law.
See below for some of the measures that are in effect as of today:
Runny nose and/or congestion is no longer considered a primary COVID-19 symptom; therefore, testing is not required if a runny nose and/or congestion is your only symptom.
All Kahnawake businesses that host their clients, such as restaurants, bars, social clubs, and EDC organizations, MUST maintain a registry of people who enter and leave the premises. Public Health requires the first and last name of each individual, their phone number, and the time of entry and departure.
Masking is not required while outdoors, whether in a private or public setting, such as a park, playground, ball field, or small family gathering if fully vaccinated. If partially vaccinated or not vaccinated, wearing a mask is required when a 2-meter distance cannot be maintained.
Masking is once again required for all Kahnawake businesses and EDC Organizations in all indoor common areas (example: conference rooms and shared office spaces), regardless of the ability to maintain distancing.
The Public Safety Commission and Public Health want to emphasize that although we are on a GREEN level alert, this does not mean the pandemic is over. We must remain vigilant and follow public health measures as a means to prevent any outbreaks and keep us on the right path forward.
A helpful video from the National Post on Self-Isolation. Although they mention 1m distance between others in your home, we still strictly recommend 2m distance between yourself and another.
Onkwata’karitáhtshera wishes to inform the
community that Jordan’s Principle continues to accept applications during these
difficult times. Jordan’s Principle initiative is an
ongoing legal obligation to support First Nations children living in Canada and
is available to all children in Kahnawake, ages 0-18.
This initiative works to ensure that there are no gaps in publicly funded health, social, and education programs, services, and support. Jordan’s Principle covers public services such as mental health, education (including tutoring services), screenings and assessments, medical equipment, and more.
For more information or to submit an
application, please leave a message with Andrea Brisebois, Jordan’s Principle
Coordinator, at 450-632-6880, ext. 30216 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, or email andreab@kscskahnawake.ca.
