Kahnawake to move to ORANGE Alert Level

05/12/2021

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force wishes to advise the community that, following a detailed assessment of the current state of the pandemic, the Alert Level of the community is expected to be reduced from Red to ORANGE on Friday, May 21, 2021. 

New measures within the Orange Alert level will be phased in over the next several weeks and will be announced as the situation evolves. Although the community is still at a very serious stage of the pandemic, the overall situation has stabilized to the point that the Task Force is confident to lower the alert status from the highest level (Red) to the second-highest level (Orange).

Several announcements will be made tomorrow, including new Directives (and amendments to current Directives) affecting gatherings, sports & exercise activities, restaurants, and churches.

It is important to note that risk still exists. We are moving forward while accepting that we will likely see an increase in cases of COVID-19; however, due to the vaccination campaign, a significant majority of our most vulnerable population is vaccinated.

Additionally, the increase in vaccination rates in Quebec and next week’s second dose of vaccination for Kahnawà:ke’s front line workers gives the Task Force confidence that the community is increasingly well protected. In moving forward with this change, Kahnawa’kehró:non will be responsible to use their knowledge of safe practices to make individual decisions within these measures. This will help ensure the success of this reopening while balancing the safety of each individual and the community overall.

Though the situation is stabilizing, the situation could change at any time and we could end up reverting back into a Red Alert Level. We must remain vigilant and must continue to maintain all safety measures (Mask, Distance, Hygiene). Working together as a community, we can limit and manage the spread of the virus.