MOHAWK COUNCIL OF AKWESASNE & SAINT REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE JOINT COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING (March 4, 2020)

March 4, 2020

JOINT RESPONSE TO COVID-19
In response to community concerns regarding the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), representatives of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA), including Tribal Health Services and MCA’s Department of Health, met on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 to formalize protocols and ensure readiness should the virus require a pandemic response. The health of our entire community is a priority.

Participating in the joint planning meeting were the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, MCA Emergency Measures Office, SRMT Office of Emergency Management and Safety, SRMT Education Division, SRMT Division of Social Services, MCA and SRMT Executive Directors, SRMT Family Advocate, as well as representatives of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort.
As the situation continues to evolve, staff are closely monitoring the coronavirus and a coordinated response is being implemented to mitigate its impact on the community’s overall health. Ongoing coordination amongst community health practitioners will continue and informational updates will continue to be provided to increase awareness and preparedness. The MCA and SRMT staff will work closely to continue providing informational briefings including today’s:

BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that was first detected in China and has now been detected in almost 70 locations internationally, including in the United States and Canada.
Reported illnesses associated with COVID-19 appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and resemble the seasonal influenza, with fever and cough. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing has emerged as possible indicators of the illness as well.

GENERAL UPDATES
138 passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been quarantined at NAV Centre in Cornwall. All tests for the COVID-19 virus at NAV Centre have been negative. Preparations are underway for the scheduled release of the quarantined travellers on Friday, March 6, 2020.
As of March 4, 2020, Canada has reported a total of 33 cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in the country. All cases are individuals who had recently travelled to an affected country, or their spouse/family member had. Some have already recovered completely and others remain under self-isolation. Ontario has 20 cases, British Columbia has 12, and Quebec reports 1 case.

The U.S. has over 80 cases of confirmed COVID-19 and at least two cases of community spread, meaning the person(s) had not recently travelled or had known exposure to the virus. There have been 9 U.S. deaths.

TRAVEL ADVISORIES
Canada:
As of March 2, 2020, Canada advises the public to avoid non-essential travel to China and to avoid all travel to the Hubei province of China. Screening processes have been implemented at the 10 major airports across Canada and in the U.S. If you have recently travelled internationally, Canada advises you to monitor your health and contact a health professional who can advise on the next appropriate steps. Travellers from countries with heavy outbreaks of the virus (such as Iran and China) are undergoing screening upon arriving to the U.S. or Canada. Only those who meet certain criteria for exposure to COVID-19 will be tested for the virus. More information is available at www.canada.ca/coronavirus.

United States:
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises the public to avoid non-essential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. Foreign nationals from China and Iran are not permitted to enter the U.S. due to the virus. Others arriving from a “Level 3” country may be transferred to one of 11 U.S. airports with quarantine procedures in place. More information is available at www.cdc.gov.

PREVENTION
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus, but the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to viruses in general by:
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick,
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth,
· Stay at home when you are sick,
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or inside area of your elbow,
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, and
· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
NOTE: Facemasks should only be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 and health professionals to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.

SYMPTOMS
· Please do not visit Urgent Care or the Emergency Room, including SRMT Health Clinic or MCA’s health clinics, without notification, should you have symptoms of COVID and have recently travelled or believe you have been exposed to the virus.
· Contact SRMT Health Clinic at (518) 358-3141 or MCA’s Department of Health at (613) 575-2341 for remote screening,
· Self-quarantine until symptoms disappear.
· NOTE: Individuals should have should sufficient supply of food, medicine and other essential items for a 14-day quarantine period.

WHO DATA/SITUATION REPORT – Posted March 3, 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the following statistical data on the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus):