English stories

Kahnawake alert level lowered to orange

le lundi 17 mai 2021
Modifié à 17 h 06 min le 17 mai 2021
Par David Daigle, Le Courrier du Sud, Initiative de journalisme local

ddaigle@gravitemedia.com

The Mohawk community of Kahnawake will soon lower its alert level from red to orange, now that the first phase of its vaccination campaign has been completed. About 74% of the adult population and 70% of 16- and- 17-year-olds have received their first shot. As of May 21st, the number of people allowed to gather outdoors will increase from eight to 12 as long as they wear a mask and stay two meters apart. Some sports and recreational activities will be permitted, and places of worship will be able to accommodate people at 25% capacity, to a maximum of 50 community members. Restaurants will also be able to reopen at 25% capacity. “It is only for Kahnawake at this time, and it is only for one household that can sit at a table together”, Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre Executive Director Lisa Westaway said at press conference on May 13th. “This is a temporary measure until Quebec opens in-dining restaurants in the communities around us, meaning Montérégie and Montreal”. Kahnawake has been managing its COVID-19 response locally since the start of the pandemic. Growing number of cases among teens The relaxing of public health measures follows a series of outbreaks among young people. The community has recently gone from 0 active cases to 25 in a few weeks. For comparison, the total number of cases during the first wave was 22. To deal with the rise in cases, the Kahnawake COVID-19 Task Force added other precautions. For example, 25 additional shots were made available to 16- and 17- year-olds, and a new rewards program was created for teens who respect safety rules. With the flare-up now under control, Westaway says the response team is prepared to deal with new risks. “That was a really good demonstration of our ability to contain COVID within the community quickly”, she said. All front-line workers have already received their second dose.