Tahltan Nation COVID-19 Emergency Management Update 10/15

TAHLTAN NATION COVID-19 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Late afternoon on Wednesday October 14th, the Red Chris management team was advised that a contractor tested positive for COVID-19. The contractor travelled to site via commercial flights and rental vehicle and only began to exhibit symptoms after returning home.

Newcrest (Red Chris) informed the Tahltan Nation COVID-19 Emergency Management Team (TNCEMPT) immediately. Please see below Red Chris’s Site Notice from this morning as well their Arrival Notice for your review.

It is important for everyone to know that the contractor arrived on a Monday of a changeover week, meaning weeklong heightened COVID-19 protocols were in effect and after our local workforce had departed to the communities of Dease Lake, Iskut, and Telegraph Creek; as result, they, and the communities for which they returned to are at no risk of exposure from this contractor.

In addition, given the fact that new personnel from our communities will remain onsite for their three-week shift – well above the incubation period – and that a controlled departure is now in effect, there should be no risk to Tahltan communities from this contractor.

In short, the risk to the communities of the Tahltan Nation appears minimal.

As everyone knows, the Tahltan Nation has comprehensive protocols in place to mitigate COVID-19 from reaching our Territory, including response plans for every situation. Please remain vigilant and stay the course by following all our measures in place. By so doing, the risk to our communities will remain low.

THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL MEASURES REMAIN IN PLACE IN TAHLTAN TERRITORY:

Stay Home: Unless you must go to work, or you are going onto the land to exercise with those in your household (people you live with);

Avoid ALL Non-Essential Trips In Your Community: Stop going to other communities. Limit the number of times you go to high traffic areas such as the store or post office;

Physical Distancing: Do not gather in groups. Ensure you stay a minimum of 6 feet away from other people;

Wash Hands Regularly: Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more. Soap is the best-known remedy for killing this virus so wash frequently;

Couch or Sneeze Into Your Elbow or a Tissue: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your tissue in a waste basket. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze int your upper sleave, not your hands;

Don’t Touch Your Face: Don’t transfer the virus into your body by touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

Tina Edzerza – Dease Lake EMC lead – EMCDL@Tahltan.org

Natasha Callbreath – Iskut EMC lead – emergencycoordinator@iskut.org