COVID-19 BULLETIN #37

COMMUNITY UPDATE AND NEW LOCKDOWN RULES

Tansi!

The number of First Nations people getting sick and dying from COVID-19 continues to climb. Today, 63% of all new cases in Manitoba are First Nations people. To avoid a worse situation in our community we are taking every possible action to contain the virus. At the moment individual rights are secondary to the collective well-being of all of us.

Our amazing public health team worked all day yesterday and today to identify all of the people who may have been in contact with the person in our community who has COVID-19. A total of 21 people were tested today. It will take a few days to get the results back. Contact tracing is continuing as it has been determined that several people did not isolate and may have been in contact with others in the community.

As of this evening, 14 households are in isolation. More people may be required to isolate depending on the ongoing results of contact tracing. The homes in isolation will be monitored 24 hours a day to ensure there is no contact with anyone else. Their food and medical needs will be met. Public health will develop plans for their re-integration into the community when it is safe to do so.

Our dedicated team has reviewed how to limit the spread of the virus while also making sure everyone gets the supplies and critical services they need. Please follow all the rules as otherwise we will have no choice but to fine people and we will increase the fines if people refuse to listen. In worse case scenarios the RCMP can arrest people if they refuse to follow the public health orders.

Although we can’t visit family and friends like we normally would at this time of the year, we can still celebrate Christmas with the people living in our own households. The rules we have outlined are for the health and safety of all of us.

MANDATORY STAY AT HOME ORDER

  • Everyone must stay at home in your own house or yard;
  • NO VISITING ANYONE is allowed;
  • One person in each household will be given a special YELLOW PASS which will allow them to go to Three Rivers Store, to the Gas Station for tobacco and return home;
  • Chief and Council and other Essential Workers will be given different coloured passes;
  • Barricades will be in place in all areas of the community and no-one will be able to leave their area without showing their pass;
  • The RCMP, FNSOs and additional security will be monitoring all neighbourhoods on a constant basis;
  • Only essential workers will be allowed to obtain gas at OT Gas Station;
  • A Curfew for everyone will be in effect from 7:00 pm to 8:00 am – no-one can be outside even in their yards during these hours;
  • All home-based businesses (confectionaries) must remain closed including no food sales;
  • No taxis and personal transportation (no rez rides) are allowed.

SPECIAL PASSES AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS

  • Only a limited number of essential workers from outside the community will be given a COMMUNITY ACCESS PASS;
  • Each household will be given ONE LOCAL ACCESS PASS to be able to go to the store or to purchase tobacco at a scheduled time;
  • NCN Employees who have been called back to work to assist with security, administrative functions, shopping and delivering food and other supplies to Elders, people with disabilities and single parents who have no child care will be given special passes also.

MAIL, GROCERIES AND SUPPLIES

  • A schedule has been developed for each household to be able to get their social assistance cheques, provide written authorization for them to be cashed, pick up their mail and to shop for supplies for a maximum of an hour and a half;
  • Each household is required to make a list of the number of families living in the household along with their list of supplies to facilitate food distribution for all homes;
  • Three Rivers Store will not be open until 1:00 pm;
  • All deliveries will be drop offs at the door with NO CONTACT.

ADDITIONAL MATTERS

  • All events including bingo is cancelled;
  • Toys for Kids will be done virtually, followed by NO CONTACT drop off;
  • No deliveries to the check stop are allowed;
  • No camping or outdoor recreational activities will be allowed except in your own yard with members of your own household;
  • The Mystery Lake Hotel will be used for medical patients receiving treatments like dialysis or other ongoing health treatments;
  • The Beer Store opening will be delayed until the new year.

THE SITUATION IS VERY URGENT. WE NEED EVERYONE TO FOLLOW THE RULES WHICH HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS TERRIBLE VIRUS.

We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available.

Ekosani!