Task Force announces additional measures to address ILC outbreak

12/04/2020

The Kahnawake COVID-19 Task Force wishes to advise the community that it has been made fully aware of the current situation at the Independent Living Center, where two staff members have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Additional measures are being implemented immediately to ensure the health and safety of the residents and the staff during this outbreak*:

• All residents are now in isolation
• KMHC’s Local Public Health Team has completed contact tracing
• Retraining of all staff and residents regarding Infection Prevention and Control measures
• Enforcement of Public Health directives within the ILC
• Screening of all ILC staff and residents
• Screening of any person who has entered the ILC facility between November 21st and December 3rd

In accordance with the Kahnawà:ke Emergency Preparedness Law, the Task Force is responsible to ensure the health and safety of all community members. On that basis, the Task Force has designated the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre’s Public Health Unit and medical team to oversee the actions being taken to mitigate this emergency medical situation. These include the following:

• Medical and functional authority of the operation of the Independent Living Center will be provided by a team consisting of:
• Nurse (office to be on-site) (Sarah Belliveau)
• Infection, Prevention and Control specialist (Juanita Belanger)
• Management and oversight of implementation of Public Health directives (Tracy Johnson)
• Medical advisor (Dr. Annick Gauthier)

These actions will remain in effect for the duration of the outbreak, which is defined as 28 days after the last active case.

*Please note that definition of an outbreak is two or more persons who are connected by epidemiological link.