‘Hang in there Kahnawake’ public officials address toll of distancing measures
Written by Webadmin on 17 April 2020
As the expected pandemic peak approaches over the next few days, public health and safety officials in Kahnawake are maintaining the course for distancing measures.
In a daily briefing on Friday, public safety commissioner, Lloyd Philips, acknowledged the impact of weeks of distancing measures on the community.
“As much as we’re battling the virus, we’re also battling a psychological battle,” he said. “That feeling that people are feeling of being alone…that has an impact on you and we understand that.”
“Once we reach that peak, we’ll see where things will go,” said Philips.
Businesses and services deemed essential in the community will remain the same, despite comments from Quebec’s premier earlier in the week about expanding the list of essential services into the construction field.
“Just because the premier is doing something, doesn’t mean that we’re going to follow suit,” said Philips. “Regardless of what the province may say, we’re going to make the decisions for Kahnawake and in the best interests of our community.”
Unlike longterm care facilities in the rest of the province, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at the KMHC, Elder’s Lodge or ILC in the community, and Philips said measures must remain in place to keep things that way.
