MOHAWK COUNCIL OF AKWESASNE & SAINT REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE JOINT COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS) INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING (March 6, 2020)
JOINT RESPONSE TO COVID-19
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA), including health and emergency staff, are working together to provide information to the community and to ensure readiness should the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) outbreak require a pandemic response. The health of our entire community is a priority.
Please refer to our websites for previous informational updates: www.srmt-nsn.gov and www.akwesasne.ca.
GENERAL UPDATES
• Today the evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship were released from their quarantine at the NAV Centre in Cornwall. 138 passengers and 13 crew members who transported the evacuees were quarantined “out of an abundance of caution.” The crew members were released from quarantine previously as it was determined they were not at risk of having the virus. The evacuees have now completed 14 days of quarantine on the ship and 14 additional days of quarantine at NAV. No person at NAV tested positive for the virus and they are all free to resume their normal lives.
• We thank the Cornwall mayor’s office and Dr. Paul Roumeliotis from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit for continuing to keep Akwesasne informed.
CANADA UPDATES
From the Government of Canada website: www.canada.ca/coronavirus
As of March 5, 2020, 45 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Canada. In addition, the Government of Quebec(French only) reported their third case of COVID-19 and the Government of Alberta reported their first case of COVID-19. The provinces have sent their presumptive positive samples to the National Microbiology Laboratory for further testing.
PROVINCE OR TERRITORY — CONFIRMED CASES:
• Ontario — 22
• British Columbia — 21
• Quebec — 2
U.S. UPDATES
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: www.cdc.gov
COVID-19: U.S. at a Glance
• Total cases: 99
• Total deaths: 10
• States reporting cases: 13
COVID-19: Cases in the United States Reported to CDC
• Travel-related: 30
• Person-to-person spread: 20
• Under Investigation: 49
• Total cases: 99
RECOVERIES
An estimated 55,000 of the nearly 100,000 cases of coronavirus are reported to be recovered, according to Worldometers.info, and independent data collection and reporting company.
TRAVEL ADVISORIES
Government of Canada:
• As of March 6, 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 Department of State Advisory:
U.S. citizens are urged to:
• The Department of State’s Travel Advisory for China is currently a Level 4- Do Not Travel to China due to novel coronavirus.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• If you decide to travel to China discuss your travel with your healthcare provider. Older adults and travelers with underlying health issues may be at risk for more severe disease.
• Avoid animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat).
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Follow local authority instructions.
• Closely monitor Travel.state.gov and CDC.gov for important information.
Please Note: A screening process has been implemented at the Massena Port-of-Entry to identify individuals who traveled within the previous 14-days from countries experiencing heavy outbreaks. Individuals are isolated and CDC/Public Health Officials are notified for testing to be conducted.
Before you travel
Due to the current public health situation, many countries have begun implementing strict screening procedures in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
• Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in Hubei province, China in the previous 14 days may be subject to up to 14 days of quarantine.
• Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in the rest of mainland China within the previous 14 days may undergo a health screening and possible self-quarantine.
• Please read these Department of Homeland Security supplemental instructions for further details.
• U.S. citizens are encouraged to monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities. You may also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
• If you travel, you should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updates.
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
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease cases.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
IF YOU HAVE 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-19 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 sufficient supply of food, medicine and other essential items for a 14-day quarantine period.
WHO DATA/SITUATION REPORT – Posted March 5, 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the following statistical data on the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus):
• 95,333 total cases of COVID-19 globally
• 14.768 cases of COVID-19 outside of China
• 3015 COVID-19 related deaths in China
• 267 COVID-19 related deaths outside of China
USEFUL LINKS:
EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT
• WEBSITE: www.eohu.ca
• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/EOHUhealth
• TWITTER: https://twitter.com/EOHU_tweet
• YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/EasternOntarioHealth
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
• WEBSITE: www.who.int
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA
• WEBSITE: www.canada.ca/publichealth
U.S. CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
• WEBSITE: www.cdc.gov
03062020-JOINT-SRMT-MCA-RELEASE-COVID-19-Novel-Coronavirus-Informational-Update-March-6-2020