Strict New Measures For Those Who Work With Vulnerable Kahnawakero:non
Written by Paul Graif on 29 April 2021
Strict new measures are being imposed on those who work with the vulnerable population in Kahnawake. The COVID-19 Task Force has enacted Directive 61 which states that “until a return to normalcy, all employees that work with vulnerable clientele must provide proof to their employer of one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination”
It applies to employees of the:
- Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre
- KSCS
- Kahnawà:ke Fire Brigade (Medical Transport, and paramedics); and
- Peacekeepers
Those employees who cannot provide proof of vaccination, or refuse to be vaccinated, must undergo screenings three (3) times per week.
“It’s a measure to ensure the safety of vulnerable community members, and in no shape or form is it about vaccination necessarily,” KMHC Executive Director Lisa Westaway said on the Morning D on K1037 on Thursday. “What it is saying is that we need to have the best measures in place to protect the vulnerable population. Therefore, we need to know if you’re vaccinated. If you’re not vaccinated then you need to undergo the screenings. It’s not about pushing anybody to get vaccinated because that, of course, is everybody’s right to choose.”
There are eight active cases of COVID-19 in Kahnawake, but the number of people in isolation due to close contact has now dropped below 100.
