December 29, 2020
COVID-19 BULLETIN #40

EASING SOME LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

Tansi!
It is only a few days until 2020 will be over. So far we are very lucky. The one active case in the community has been resolved and all of that person’s contacts have been given the clearance by our public health team to leave isolation. We are still waiting for the test results for the second group. The people they were in contact with must also stay in isolation until they are given clearance by the public health team.
As everyone else followed the rules we are able to lift some of the restrictions in place during the full lockdown. The lifting of these restrictions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. IF THERE IS ANOTHER ACTIVE CASE, A FULL LOCKDOWN WILL GO BACK INTO EFFECT.
We must be very careful as the virus has mutated in several countries around the world and at least one of those new strains of the virus is now in Canada. While the impacts of these new strains are not entirely clear, initial information seems to indicate they spread even more quickly than the original virus. This means we must continue to limit all contacts and travel outside our community.

Mental Health
If you are feeling lonely, stressed or are experiencing anxiety please do not hesitate to call our Counselling Service Department at 204-484-2341 during the day or 1-413-354-1270 after hours. This pandemic has caused a lot of stress for everyone so reach out if you want to talk with someone.

Three Rivers Store

  • The head of the household who was issued a Yellow Pass will be able to continue using it on December 29th and 30th ONCE only
  • Regular store hours will go back into effect on December 31, 2020
  • There will be no pre-ordering and deliveries except for Elders
  • Only 25 people are allowed in the store at a time and physical distancing must be maintained inside and outside the store
  • Masks must continue to be worn

Thompson Family Foods Deliveries

  • Thompson Family Foods will continue to deliver to the Duncan Wood Memorial Hall
  • Everyone who orders from Thompson Family Foods will be responsible for making arrangements for someone to unload the truck and pick up their order at the Duncan Wood Memorial Hall
  • Masks are required
  • Physical distancing and sanitization rules will be in effect
  • Neither the NCN Government or the Justice Department are responsible for lost or stolen items, tampering of packages or wear and tear from moving boxes from one vehicle to another
  • Family Foods Contact Information: Phone: 204-778-5420 Fax: 204-778-5491 Email: [email protected]

Other Deliveries

  • No deliveries to the check stop will be allowed for now
  • Meat packs and cleaning supplies will be delivered to homes this week

Mail

  • Regular Pre-paid packages can continue to be mailed and will be delivered to your home
  • Registered and COD parcels must be picked up at the post office

Gas Station

  • A limit of 50 litres of gas can be purchased for vehicles, snowmobiles and gas containers

No Visiting

  • No house parties, poker games, family gatherings or visiting private homes is allowed

Curfew

  • The curfew from 9:00 pm to 8:00 am remains in effect for everyone except essential workers.

Outdoor Recreational Activities

  • Up to 5 members of your own household can participate in outdoor activities such as ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, street or ice hockey, walking, or hiking;
  • Parents must supervise their own children to ensure that they stay within their family unit;
  • Snowmobiling is not allowed beyond the Metis Settlement or the powerline near the footbridge.

Family Ice Fishing

  • Up to 5 members from the same household are allowed in each ice shack;
  • Ice shacks must be placed at least 20 feet apart so they are not in the same general proximity of another ice shack;
  • All persons participating must wear masks and have no contact with another family group.

Spiritual/Religious Practices

  • Sweat lodge Ceremonies can take place with the Officiant and 5 family members from your own household
  • Church Services can take place over social media, the NCN radio or in your own home with your household only
  • Wakes and Funerals can take place with only the Officiant and 5 family members from a household attending at a time with sanitization between groups of five
  • Only persons who live in the community will be allowed to attend sweat lodge ceremonies, wakes and funerals

Camping

  • Applications must be made to the Justice and Public Safety department for authorization to check on your camp
  • No overnight visits to camps are allowed
  • Decisions made by the Justice and Public Safety department in consultation with the NCN Public Health team will be final and binding on all applicants
  • If anyone decides to leave even if their application is denied they will not be allowed to re-enter the community until the RED zone designation is lifted.

Additional Rules Remain in Place

  • Only persons living in a household are allowed to gather together unless a person from outside the household is providing child care, elder care or other health and social services to a member of the household
  • ATEC, Schools, Arena, Multi-plex and the VLT Centre will remain closed
  • Three Rivers Store and the OT gas station will remain open at 25% capacity
  • Travel authorizations will only be allowed for serious medical reasons verified by the Nurse in Charge or designate
  • No travel to southern Manitoba or out of province will be allowed except for serious medical emergencies verified by the Nurse in Charge
  • Only nurses or other public health workers will be granted special entry passes to enter the community during the holidays
  • No employees from outside the community will be allowed to attend work in the community unless they are nurses or other public health workers
  • Patrols will remain in effect for all access roads, trails, rivers and waterways that lead to NCN Lands and searches will continue during patrols and at the check stop;
  • • A strict STAY AT HOME ORDER will go back into effect if there is another confirmed case
  • • Fines of $500 can be issued for breach of the OIC and in addition, under Provincial Public Health Orders fines are $298 for failure to wear a mask; $1296 for failure to abide by the other restrictions; and $5,000 for a business including home-based businesses (confectionaries).

Again, we remind everyone to be respectful to our staff as they continue to work very hard to try to keep our community safe. Be kind as this pandemic is very hard on everyone. Follow the Rules as we all have a responsibility to protect each other. Ekosani!