Task Force Urges Kahnawakero’non to Continue Measures
Written by Paul Graif on 20 April 2020
“The measures we are implementing are to avoid everyone getting sick at once and the medical system collapsing,” said Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC). “We urge you to stay in Kahnawake. To shop locally. We urge you to stick to the measures.”
There were six tests conducted at the testing site in Kahnawake on Monday. The total is now 173 since the site opened adjacent to the KMHC more than three weeks ago. “This is a really low number. I hope it’s because we don’t have symptoms in the community. But I’m not sure of that,” Westaway said.
If you experience any of the symptoms for Covid-19 you should self isolate. That means you must stay in a room and not leave it for 14 days and that you have your own bathroom. You need to do this so that you don’t transfer the virus to someone else around you.
The Task Force also focused on what it means to stay home as much as possible in order to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus. “Only go out for essential needs. It’s all about planning. It means we don’t go out once a day. We only go out once a week or every 2 weeks,” Westaway said. “And if you’re over 70 its important that someone goes out and takes care of your needs for you. You need to stay home.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Lloyd Phillips says that Kahnawake has been doing a very good job of following the measures that have been put in place. “We are really taking care of our community like we never have done before,” Phillips said.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. I want to be optomistic. But we also want to be realistic. Even though we see the light we want to keep up those measures. Because if we let off then we could see that spike very quickly,” he said.
