State of Emergency extended for seventh consecutive month in Kahnawake

Kentenhkó:wa/November 16, 2020. Kahnawake. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that the current State of Emergency has been formally extended for a period of 30 days at today’s duly convened Council meeting. The passage, by Consensus, of the Mohawk Council Resolution includes the extension of the Mandate for the Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force. Officially, the extension is dated from November 21 to December 21, 2020. The community has been operating under the State of Emergency since the original Declaration ratified on April 21, 2020. By law, the State of Emergency must be renewed on

a monthly basis.

These actions have been taken to ensure the protection of Kahnawà:ke’s jurisdiction while the community addresses all matters related to the pandemic. It also gives the MCK the ability to make changes to various public safety laws (Kahnawà:ke Emergency Preparedness Law, Sanitary Conditions Law) should the need arise during the pandemic.

Important news regarding Private Home visits

Visits between two Households

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force wishes to advise the community that, effective Friday, November 13, 2020, Private Home Visits are permitted between a maximum of two (2) households at a time. It is strongly recommended that these visits be limited to once per week. This measure has been adjusted to address the mental health concerns raised by the community.

Please note the following: Private Home Visits do NOT include the following: parties, gatherings of multiple households or multiple family members from different households

Private Home Visits should NOT take place if: you are at risk (over 70, immune-suppressed, etc.), you live with someone who is at risk, or you take care of someone who is at risk, if you have COVID-19, if you have COVID-19 related symptoms, have been around a positive case, are awaiting test results.

“It is suggested that family members and friends continue to reach out by telephone and other forms of communication to those vulnerable community members,” said Derek Montour, KSCS Executive Director.

“The community needs to be aware that we are at our highest level of alert in this second wave and the risk of transmission of the virus is still significant,” said Lloyd Phillips, Commissioner of Public Safety and Head of the Task Force. “We must be aware that home visits – and increasing the number of contacts in the home – increases the risk of transmitting the virus. It is extremely important that we respect the limitations of this directive. We continue to see record numbers of cases in the areas around us while, in Kahnawà:ke, we presently have three cases.”

Please note that it is a personal responsibility to ensure that these visits are done safely, if someone does not wish to have anyone else in their home, it is a personal choice.

“This measure is being put in place to help reduce stress and anxiety levels in Kahnawà:ke,” he added. “We must all do our part to help protect our most vulnerable population – which is what we’ve been doing all along. Working together as a community we can limit and manage the spread of the virus.”

Remember: Distance, Frequent Hand Washing, and Masks!