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The emergency isolation shelter for those who are returning from travel or for front line health care workers has been set up in Kahnawake. In order to access it call KSCS 450-632-6880 and ask for the intake worker for the shelter. Psycho-social support remains available as usual through KSCS during regular business hours. Someone is always on call after hours as well. Call the Peacekeepers and ask for the on-call worker 450-632-6505.

Lloyd Phillips, the Commissioner of Public Safety in Kahnawake says the number of positive cases in Quebec has now doubled in just five days to over 8000. 94 people have died from Covid-19. In Kahnawake there are a handful of cases according to Phillips.

“The measures that we took in Kahnawake, which in many cases are stronger even than what the province is doing, are working. We have a handful of cases in Kahnawake. That’s something that on behalf of the community I’m proud to hear. I’m happy to hear that. That means we are on the right track,” Phillips said.

One of those measures is preventing workers from outside communities coming in to Kahnawake for non-essential work. Phillips said that includes companies which open up swimming pools and those that perform gardening services.  “We are trying to minimize the amount of people not from Kahnawake coming here unless you have an essential purpose. At this point in time a pool is not deemed to be an essential thing.  We don’t want to jeopardize the community’s safety for the fact that somebody wants to open up their pool,” Phillips said.

Quebec will release their projections on Tuesday on where they see the number of positive cases peaking. The Kahnawake Covid-19 Task Force is working on their own numbers for the community and will have those ready later in the week as well.   

There have been a few positive tests for Covid-19 that have trickled in over the last few days according to Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC).

100 people from Kahnawake have been tested so far in the first five and a half days that the local site has been open.

The testing site at the KMHC is being monitored by security 24 hours a day by 10 different volunteers who are working in shifts. One Peacekeeper is always on hand during the testing period each day as well. Emergency Management Coordinator Atiesa Foot said that they have placed a curtain, for privacy for those being tested, at the exit to the site.

1200 protective masks have been distributed to the Peacekeepers, the KFB and KSCS workers. 768 bottles of hand sanitizer that will arrive in the coming days. Foot says that more personal protective equipment will arrive in the community early next week. Foot also says the signs limiting Kahnawake to residents, shipments and essential workers will be going up in the next few days.

Fire Brigade Chief David Scott says that all Paramedic shifts are being covered as required. They and the firefighters are spending 24 hours straight in station and are not permitted to go home during that time.

Scott asks that if you call for an emergency and if you have the symptoms to please tell the dispatcher so that the first responders can be adequately prepared in case of Covid-19 transmission. Family members are not permitted in the ambulance on any transport to hospital unless it is to accompany a minor.

Grass fires, brush fires and debris should not be burned at home. “Burning grass at home will not help it. Firefighting is a close contact team effort and it is difficult to practice physical distancing and it is labour intensive to disinfect all of the equipment and trucks after a call,” Scott said.

Dr. Annick Gauthier says the best and most accurate information on Covid-19 is at Quebec.ca

Dr. Gauthier says, for the general public, wearing gloves and surgical masks are not useful. The only time you should wear a mask is if you must be in the public and are experiencing one of the symptoms. The best protection remains washing your hands properly for a minimum of 20 seconds, she says.

If you have recovered from Covid-19, you may still be susceptible to contracting it again in the short term, but highly unlikely to contract it after a month. Dr. Gauthier says it depends on how long it takes your body to develop the antibodies. She says it is even slower recovery for those in the elder population. However, if you are already immune compromised, you likely remain at risk.

Dr Gauthier does not recommend that families who aren’t living together still gather while trying to remain 6 feet apart because she says the natural inclination is to get close to those people. Gauthier said the best way to see your parents for instance, is to drop off a package at the door, ring the bell, and then speak to them from a much further distance such as the end of the driveway.

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Joe Norton says besides attending to mitigating the pandemic, MCK business is still being attended to on a daily basis. He says most of it is conducting in the respective home offices of council members, by phone or video conferencing. “Business does not stop. We have to keep going,” Norton said.

Vickie Coury-Jocks, the Manager of Assisted Living Services at KSCS, has taken over coordination of the new emergency isolation shelter in Kahnawake. It is to provide a safe haven for those returning from outside of Quebec, such as Ironworkers, and for essential health care workers who are concerned they may contract the virus and bring it home to their families, or they may contract it and infect their patients. It will allow them to be able to respect the 14-day self-isolation order. “We are working to get people home who may have been away for weeks or even months,” Coury-Jocks said.

87 people have been tested at the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) site so far in Kahnawake. “We don’t know yet whether we have community transmission or not. So we feel it is pertinent in Kahnawake to test,” Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the KMHC, said.

If you develop the symptoms of Covid-19 you should self-isolate for 14 days. You can also call the KMHC for a test at 450-638-3930 Ext. 2296 or Ext. 2275.

Lloyd Phillips, the Commissioner of Public Safety sais that the CITSO bus that originates in Chateauguay and heads to Angringon and returns, will be halted from stopping in Kahnawake for either drop offs or pick-ups.

In order to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 in Kahnawake, Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS), by order of the Kahnawake Covid-19 Task Force, is opening an emergency isolation shelter in the community. The shelter is for those who are returning from travel and for Health Care workers who do not want to risk being infected by their family members, or risk infecting their patients at work. If you fall into any of those categories you are encouraged to call KSCS during regular business hours 450-632-6880 and ask for the Isolation shelter intake worker.

Signs limiting Kahnawake to local and delivery traffic as well as those who work in the community from the outside only will be going up at the various entrances to the community in the coming days.  Violators could be subject to fines if they disobey.

75 tests have been performed so far at the Kahnawake Covid-19 testing site. Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital (KMHC).

The KMHC received some protective supplies today and have enough for the foreseeable future.  Lloyd Phillips, the Commissioner of Public Safety said that more masks and other stock are coming in soon as well. “We are confident we have enough supplies and personal protective equipment to meet the needs,” Phillips said.  

Westaway says as of now, in Kahnawake, the measures seem to be working to limit the spread of the virus. “But until we have a clearer picture it will be really difficult to see over the other side of the hill or when we will come out of this,” Westaway said.

From the Health Ministry in Quebec: Prescription renewals can be done by the pharmacy until July 15^th. It means, in most cases that you don’t have to return to your doctor to renew a prescription.  

Ashlan Phillips, the Emergency Food Coordinator KSCS said that the prepared hot meal distribution is for the elders in the community over the age of the 60, or for those who are unable to cook for themselves.

The food distribution portion through the Kateri Food basket is for those who were affected by the loss of employment due to the virus.

The Committee organizing the Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow in Kahnawake, made the decision to cancel the event this summer. The 30th annual event was scheduled to be held on Tekakwitha Island July 11-12^th.

Lynne Norton is the secretary on the organizing committee. She says organizing at this point was nearly impossible. “Our vendors, we don’t even know if they would be able to travel by that time and even if they would have enough money to travel by that time because this is everybody’s economy for the whole summer,” Norton said. “Then you talk about that it’s just scary at this point to think about the loads of people coming in from the city. And by July does that mean that they’ll all be okay? No, it does not. We have no idea who will be coming in July. It’s just too soon.”

Norton says it hurts even further as this was slated to be the 30^th edition of the Pow Wow. “This is the first year we have a bit of money and we were going to try and really entertain and have specials in there.”

“We know that the efforts that we are making have been working,” said Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital (KMHC). “We can not let up because as soon as we do we will see an increase.”

The testing center in Kahnawake will reopen on Thursday, a day ahead of the planned 48 hour shutdown by public health in order to allow the labs a chance to catch up. There are 24 spots for testing in Kahnawake on Thursday. The criteria for those who will be tested include: Fever, cough, respiratory issues, loss of taste or loss of sense of smell, or travel or contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. You can call the KMHC if you are experiencing the symptoms of coronavirus at 450-638-3930 Ext. 2296 or Ext. 2275.

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Gina Deer said that further to a press release today that provided an update on payments for those who have lost their incomes: “The relief payments are expected to start as early as next week,” Deer said. The team at Client Based Services are working 7 days a week and making and receiving calls at 450-638-0500 from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm.

KSCS says that all of their regular services remain intact and continue to be offered to the community. In addition the prevention staff is putting their resources and information on to the KSCS Facebook page as well as at KSCS.ca

Cheryl Zacharie is the Manager of Support Services at KSCS, she says they are also working on a special taking circle for front line and essential workers in Kahnawake to offer them psycho-social support.

K1037 is now receiving financial assistance from Task Force. Lloyd Phillips, the Commissioner of Public Safety said that the radio station is an essential service. He said it is important they remain on-air in order to provide information to the community. “They rely heavily on Radio Bingo which has been temporarily suspended,” Phillips said.

There have been no new cases of Covid-19 in Kahnawake in the last 24 hours according to Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital (KMHC). As well there have not been any positive cases or suspect cases in the in patient portion of the hospital, nor at the Elders Lodge.

Meanwhile, provincial public health officials are closing the testing sites across the province for the next 48 hours to all except for those already in hospital and front line workers. It is to give the testing labs some time to catch up to the sheer volume of tests. As a result of the huge increase in the number of tests, the labs are unable to process all of the tests in the proper time frame. If they are not processed in that time frame it will compromise the validity of the tests.

However, certain groups will still be tested in Kahnawake: Essential service workers, which includes staff at the KMHC, the Fire Brigade, The Peacekeepers and at KSCS. Westaway says they have already conducted 60 tests at the Kahnawake site in a little over two days. There are three appointments booked for Wednesday and Westaway assured that those will be honoured.

The Quebec-Ontario Border will be closing tonight.

Kahnawake Peacekeeper Chief Dwayne Zacharie said it will only be open to Essential travel. That means service vehicles and those who are considered essential workers, those transporting goods, and conducting humanitarian work. You will be permitted to pass if it is a medical emergency or if there is no pharmacy near your home. Zacharie said it will be Police discretion at the checkpoints. He says that means it will be up to the officer at the checkpoint if you can pass or not.

Lloyd Phillips, the Commissioner of Public Safety said this will be our normal for the next while. “It will be about two weeks before we can give a prediction on how long this thing will last for. In the meantime, we have to maintain the course. The stronger the measures we take now, the less time we will be in the predicament,” Phillips said.

The Board of Directors of K1037 Radio wishes to advise the community that it is extending its mandate for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Board, which consists of Mouchie Goodleaf, Tonia Williams, Gene Diabo and Joe Delaronde, unanimously agreed that the current situation dictates that an election would best be delayed until the current situation becomes stabilized.

“An election is the farthest thing from most people’s minds at this time,” said Board spokesperson Tonia Williams. “During this time of physical distancing and safety concerns, it wouldn’t be advisable to try to conduct an election. The station has already had to put Radio Bingo on hold due to the same concerns. In the meantime Heather Bauersfeld has been asked by the Board to manage the business affairs of the station on a two days per week basis and has resigned her position on the Board to handle those duties. While the staff continues to provide top-notch essential service to the community during the pandemic, running the station on a day-to-day basis with very little revenue coming in remains a challenge. Thus we will make every effort to maintain consistent leadership through these trying times.”

The station would like to thank its many listeners and supporters for their understanding.  

“Good news! We managed to secure a significant shipment of masks, gloves and protective shields and the equiment that our front line workers need. A shipment is on its way,” said Lloyd Phillips, Kahnawake’s Director of Public Safety.

Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) says just under 50 people have gone through the Kahnawake testing site in the first day and a half.

However, there was an issue with five of those tests that were brought to the lab at Anna Laberge Hospital in Chateauguay. Westaway said five of the vials that held the swab tests were defective. So those people will be receiving a call and have to return tomorrow for a second test at the site adjacent to the KMHC.

Westaway said that if you are not mobile enough to drive alone to the testing site, call 450-638-3930 Ext. 2296 or Ext. 2275 and let them know. She says they are looking at other measures to get the testing that people require.

Westaway addressed those who have recently emerged from a 14-day self-quarantine and are wondering what that means for them? “It still means you should stay home as much as possible,” she said. “If you have to go out for essentials, you can, but you need to maintain the usual physical distancing, along with hand washing, and removing your clothes when you return home and washing them.”

Phillips said that while Quebec’s positive tests for Covid-19 continue to grow, they aren’t skyrocketing at the moment. However, he and Westaway urged people to continue physical distancing and to take all precautions.

“We will only know next week if we had an impact on flattening the curve in Quebec so we still have a ways to go,” she said.

Dr Annick Gauthier will return this Friday to answer general medical questions on Kahnawake 911. Those questions can be submitted on-line at: Questions@mck.ca