Task Force issues Christmas Holiday Guidelines

12/17/2020

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force wishes to advise the community that it has issued Guidelines for safe visitation during the upcoming Holiday Season.

With the current situation deemed critical and the risk of transmission of the virus significant, it is imperative that community members do everything they can to keep themselves, their families, and the community as healthy and safe as possible.

Therefore, the following Guidelines have been put in place:

The first and safest recommendation is to:

• Stay within your own household and have no family visits

The second recommendation, which involves increased risk, is to:

• Have one other household visit per day, between December 24 and 28, 2020 – while respecting Masking, Distancing, and proper Hand Hygiene at all times

Private home visits should NOT include the following:

• Parties
• Gatherings of multiple households or multiple family members from different households. More than two other households in your home at the same time is not permitted – this is a contravention of Directive 36.4 and is subject to fines

Private home visits should NOT take place if:

• You are over 70 years of age, immune-suppressed, or otherwise at risk
• You live with someone who is at risk or take care of someone who is at risk
• If you have COVID-19, have COVID-19-related symptoms, have been around a positive case, or are awaiting test results

It is important to note that the Peacekeepers have the authority to enforce these Guidelines and are prepared to do so due to the urgency of the situation.

Home visits and increased numbers of contacts in the home increases the risk of transmitting the virus. It is the personal responsibility of each and every person to ensure that, if we have people visiting our home, the visits are conducted safely. We must all do our part to protect our most vulnerable. Working as a community, we can manage and limit the spread of COVID-19.