Wearing Gloves and Masks Not Useful Says Dr. Gauthier
Written by Paul Graif on 3 April 2020
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.
