Statement from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation On COVID-19 January 5th 2022

Press Release

At this time, we have 13 active cases of COVID-19 in the community, affecting 10 households, 73 cases have been resolved, with 1 death. We currently have 22 residents in self-isolation (close contacts of a confirmed case) and 1 member is currently hospitalized. All impacted individuals are isolating, contact tracing has been completed and any direct contacts are adhering to the instructions provided by our MCFN Community Health professionals.

The COVID-19 situation is changing very quickly. Omicron, the new Variant of Concern, is spreading rapidly and is currently the dominant Variant of Concern in Ontario. We are asking everyone to please continue to do your part to ensure our Nation is as safe as possible during these challenging times. We are all in this together.

Surrounding Numbers

As of January 3^rd, Six Nations currently has a total of 105 active cases of COVID-19 in their community, with 410 people in isolation. Please be mindful of this and recognize the importance of continuing with the public health guidelines.

Public Health Measures

The Province of Ontario announced they will return to the modified version of Step Two of their reopening plan effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022. The MCFN Chief and Council will be implementing the following precautions in our community, effective immediately:

• Reducing social gathering limits to five (5) people indoors and ten (10) people outdoors.
• Limiting capacity at organized public events to five (5) people indoors.
• Requiring businesses and organizations to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
• Limiting capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance. Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits.
• Retail settings, including shopping malls, permitted at 50 per cent capacity.
• Closing indoor dining at restaurant. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
• Closing indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms.

Council is permitting OPP to answer reports of violations of the above precautions.

Due to rapid increase in active COVID-19 cases in and around our community, Chief and Council are highly recommending everyone refrain from gathering with anyone outside of their immediate households. This includes extended family and close friends. The Omicron is highly transmissible and we need to be proactive to slow the spread.

MCFN Return to the Office

As a means of being proactive and keeping the staff, the organization and the community safe during this time, Council has approved that MCFN will do a “hard pause” in programming, and will return to essential services only, effective January 3^rd, 2022 with a reassessment taking place prior to February 7th, 2022.

During this period, please note the following:

• Lifelong Learning programs, including Ekwaamjigenang Children’s Centre, EarlyON and Lloyd S. King Elementary School will be remote. All LSK Classes will resume online, effective January 6^th, 2022;
• Necessary Social and Health Services programming, such as the Flu Shot and Immunization Clinics will continue, with enhanced COVID-19 precautions in place;
• LMR will be deemed essential for Community Wellness applications and on-reserve status cards (please note, the office is closed this week for unrelated reasons and is expected to resume operations next week);
• Payments to MCFN will continue to be made online or in person at the Administration building (front desk only).
• All offices will be manned by a Receptionist between the hours of 8:30 – 4:30. Please note, the phones will go to voice mail during the lunch period of 12:00-1:00.

If you require emergency assistance relating to Social and Health Programs, you can contact their land line at 905-768-1181. The Receptionist will direct your call accordingly.

If you require emergency Administrative support, please contact Kerri L. King, Acting Chief Operating Officer / Executive Director of Operations, at 289-527-0364.If you require other information or supports, we encourage you to look to our website and social media for relevant contact numbers and resources.

Testing and Self-Isolation

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have come in contact with someone who tested positive, please get tested.

Please contact the following Public Health Offices and follow their instructions:

• Haldimand Norfolk Public Health – 519-426-6170, ext. 9999
• Six Nations COVID-19 Assessment Centre – 1-855-977-7737 or 226-446-9909
• Brant County Public Health – 519-751-5818 or at assessment@bchsys.org

You can also reach out to the West Haldimand General Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 905-768-3311, extension 1113, to arrange testing.

Due to the increased demand with testing, there is a delay for testing and results. We do however, encourage you to self-identify as a First Nation person, in order to speed up the process. If you test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test, we encourage you to reach out to the above Public Health Units for a PCR test, and to follow up with our Community Health Nurse for information on isolation requirements.

While the province of Ontario has moved to a five (5) day isolation period for those who test positive and are fully vaccinated, the Chief and Council have mandated that we shall remain with the current ten (10) day isolation period for everyone. Once Council receive the necessary confirmation from the ISC Communicable Disease Team, they may elect to move towards the new provincial timeframe.

For those who have been exposed to COVID-19, individuals who are fully immunized must do the following for a period of ten days:

• Wear a mask and maintain physical distancing when outside of the home to reduce the risk of transmission to others in the event they become a case;
• Self-monitor for symptoms daily and self-isolate immediately if symptoms develop.

If you have not received the vaccine, you still must self-isolate for 14 days. Please note, the MCFN Community Health Office is not a Public Health Office, although it does assist with contact tracing and wellness checks for those who reside on MCFN.

Vaccine

We are currently planning for our next Clinic. In the meantime, if you are able to get your third dose by your local Public Health Unit, we highly recommend you do so. As a

reminder, the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by Health Canada for all people aged 5 years and up. MCFN will be continuing to offer clinics for all age groups, as long as the demand is there. Vaccination is highly recommended as a means of controlling the spread and reducing the impact COVID-19 may have on a person. Please note, we will be offering the Moderna Vaccine at our upcoming booster clinic, further information will be shared on this by the Community Health Unit.

If you have any questions about the vaccine please reach out to vaccine@mncfn.ca and a Member of our Community Health team will follow-up. Please ensure you are always

receiving information on the Vaccine from a reliable source to avoid the spread of misinformation. If you have received the Vaccine, you still must follow public health measures, which includes social distancing, masking, handwashing and staying within your own social bubble.

Registration with COVaxON

Community Health has taken steps and will obtain your consent at the time of your vaccine, to register you within COVaxON. If you have previously received your vaccine and have not registered it to COVaxON, but wish to do so, please reach out to the Community Health office and we will assist. The contact number is 905-768-0141. Alternatively, you can email at vaccine@mncfn.ca and a representative will follow up.

Please note, due to data entry staffing shortages, there may be a delay in getting your booster uploaded. If you have previously provided consent and the information is still not reflected on the Provincial data base, please email the vaccine@mncfn.ca email and provide your name, address, date of birth and date your vaccine was administered. We apologize for any inconvenience, but please know we are working hard to address this.

Mental Health Supports

We understand the mental health impacts the on-going pandemic can have on our youth, and all of our members and we want you to know we are here for you.

Please see resources below:

• MCFN Mental Health Worker Faith Rivers: Faith.Rivers@mncfn.ca or 519-732-5768
• Haldimand Norfolk Reach Services: 519-587-2441 x 350
• Six Nations Crisis Line: 1-866-445-2204
• First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868, or text 686868
• Ontario Mental Health Help Line: 1-866-531-2600

The MCFN Chief and Council are responsible for making decisions that affect the Membership. If you have any concerns, please contact any member of the table.

IHT5