Listuguj COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Update
Message from the Listuguj Community Health Services: Listuguj is administering the 1st dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine now. Please call us and we will give you an appointment TODAY! […]
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Listuguj has received our first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. More vaccines will be arriving soon!
If you’re interested in getting the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and have not yet registered, please contact the Listuguj Community Health Services (LCHS) at (418) 788-2155. You must be 18 years of age or older to register.
The LCHS has created a vaccine priority schedule to ensure our most vulnerable can receive the vaccine first. The Listuguj COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out Schedule is included below.
Listuguj COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out Schedule
Group #1: Critical workers, including Health & Social Services workers with direct contact with clients AND Elders aged 80+ (born before 1939);
Group #2: Elders between the ages of 60 – 79;
Group #3: Individuals under the age of 60 living with chronic illness(es);
Group #4: Essential workers and LMG employees; and
Group #5: Balance of adult population age 18+.
Listuguj COVID-19 Guidelines Update
***Updated below for clarity on February 19, 2021: If you travel to a non-red zone within Quebec and stay overnight, you do NOT need to self-isolate.***
At the beginning of January, the Listuguj community had experienced a spike in cases. Fortunately, due to a quick response by LMG, the cases were localized and there was no community spread. Since then, our actions have reduced the total number of active cases to zero. As a result, Unified Command met this morning, as part of our normal monitoring of COVID issues, to discuss our protocols and seek adjustment, according to the reduced risk faced by the community.
Based on this review, the Unified Command has decided to make the following amendment:
February and March typically bring with it heightened mental health issues. This has been compounded by the measures to contain the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Balancing the risk level with our success in maintaining an infection rate of zero has led to a lessening of our rules regarding day travel.
Effective February 8th, 2021, day trips will be allowed on condition that hygiene and social distancing protocols are followed AND that the primary purpose of the day trip is for exercise and outdoor activities. Inter-regional and inter-provincial travel is discouraged. Overnight travel to ‘Red Zones’ will still require 14-day self-isolation upon return to Listuguj. ***To Clarify: If you travel to a non-red zone within Quebec and stay overnight, you do NOT need to self-isolate.***
In regard to testing, at this point, the PCR test does not provide the level of accuracy to determine if one has active COVID-19 (there are false readings) and at what contagion stage the individual may be. Consequently, a negative test result does not waive isolation or quarantine requirements.
Return to “bubbles”:
In early January, at height of COVID crisis in Listuguj, we moved from “bubbles” to “households”. A household was defined as being “individuals living under one roof”. However, with the current success rates (zero cases) Listuguj can now relax a little and ‘revert back’ to bubbles (one can now associate with, work with, and socialize with individuals in one’s own bubble). It is hoped that if we maintain zero cases, we will be able to progress to a community-wide bubble.
Reminder:
- Any individual coming into Listuguj to work/reside/extended visit will require a 14-day self-isolation period.
- Wash hands, wear masks, maintain social distancing.
- Listuguj non-essential businesses can re-open on February 8th.
- Individuals who travel to a ‘Red Zone’ (or outside the country) are required to self isolate upon return to Listuguj for 14 days. The EXCEPTION is for essential travel with NO overnight stay (this has been defined as grocery shopping, custody pick up/ drop off, medical/health, legal, LMG business, purchase of construction/gardening supplies, government in-person appointments/renewals, funerals). Please note that the intention with the exception is to allow individuals to conduct essential travel. It is meant to be done as quickly and directly as possible.
- Individuals who come into contact with anyone who has travelled to a ‘Red Zone’ for non-essential travel OR who has travelled for essential travel but has overnighted AND this contact has been for more than 15 minutes in an enclosed area without a mask, is required to self isolate for 14 days.
- Anyone who has tested positive must quarantine for 14 days.
- Anyone whom an order has been made to quarantine or self-isolate by competent medical or Public Health authorities shall also be required to do so.
Updated Self-Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines
Due to the ongoing support and compliance with our measures, the number of active cases in Listuguj has reduced to zero. To ensure the safety of our community and loved ones, the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government would like to update you on our new self-isolation and quarantine measures.
Travel that does not require self-isolation:
Essential travel to a ‘Red Zone’ with NO overnight stay is permitted without the need to self-isolate upon return to Listuguj. This has been defined as grocery shopping, custody pick up/ drop off, medical/health, legal, attending a funeral, LMG business, government in-person appointments/renewals and construction supply purchases.
Listuguj Self-Isolation and Quarantine Measures
Self-isolation is a preventative measure to those who may have been exposed to the virus.
Self-Isolation is mandatory if:
- You OR a member of your household is awaiting COVID-19 test results.
- You OR a member of your household OR a guest staying in your household have come from a ‘Red Zone’ or high-risk area for non-medical or non-essential purposes. You are required to self-isolate for a duration of 14 days upon return to Listuguj.
- You OR a member of your household OR a guest staying in your household have come from a ‘Red Zone’ or a high-risk area for medical or essential purposes AND stayed for one or more nights in a red zone.
- You came into contact with anyone who has travelled to a ‘Red Zone’ for non-essential travel OR who has travelled for essential travel but has stayed there for one or more nights AND this contact has been for more than 15 minutes in an enclosed area without a mask.
- You OR a member of your household have COVID related symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, new loss of smell or taste, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc.). AND have been in contact with a person who recently tested positive for COVID.
Quarantine is ordered when someone or someone within your household has been tested and received a positive COVID test result.
Quarantine measures are mandatory if:
- You or a member of your household has obtained a positive result following a COVID-19 test. The household MUST follow direction of Quebec Public Health. Quebec Public Health will release the household when it is safe to do so.
Please note, additional precautions must be taken to prevent the spread of the virus in your household especially if individuals residing in your household are considered high-risk (e.g. diabetics, etc.).
If you have any questions, please contact the COVID Hotline at 581-884-2771. The hotline is available Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. When calling after hours, please leave a detailed message including your phone number.
Changes to NB Essential Travel – January 22, 2021
January 22, 2021 – The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government would like to advise residents of recent changes to the New Brunswick Mandatory Order that will come into effect on Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 at midnight.
Residents of Listuguj First Nation [and Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec] must restrict travel to Restigouche County once per week for essential supplies (excluding urgent medical care, medical appointments, and animal care) between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Atlantic time.
We ask that all residents plan your travel for essential goods and services accordingly to meet this recent change. Maximize each trip by getting as many of your essentials as possible during your one trip per week.
Additionally, frequent travellers for work purposes, custody arrangements and medical appointments will be subject to mandatory weekly testing. We will share more details of this process as they become available.
The definition of essential goods and services includes:
- Necessities of life (e.g. groceries, clothing, etc.) and supporting services (e.g. butchers for hunted game);
- Health care (e.g. prescriptions, medical equipment & supplies, etc.). Health care travelers may be accompanied by a support person;
- Goods and services required for work or employment;
- Banking and financial institutions;
- Transportation (e.g. automobile repair); and
- Funerals and visitations of deceased immediate family members.
COVID-19 Vaccine Registration
This is a message from the Listuguj Community Health Services to Listuguj residents:
If you are between the ages of 18 and 60 years old, and are interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, call the Health Center to register for an appointment at (418) 788-2155. Please call between 8:30am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday.
Vaccine clinics are scheduled to begin in February, and we want to make sure we receive enough doses for every Listuguj resident who wants one.
Please note our Community Elders over the age of 60 years old will be contacted directly by Health Center staff.
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out Schedule
Message from Donna Metallic, Director of Health:
By now, everyone would have gotten my message about how we are each responsible for the safety and well-being of our community as we try to get through this COVID-19 crisis.
I am happy to see the increase in the number of recovered cases here in Listuguj. Please, lets all continue to follow COVID Safety Guidelines to keep this deadly pandemic out of our community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, your community leaders, Unified Command and healthcare professionals have all played a key role. We have leaned heavily on our Mi’gmaq culture and guiding principles to see our way through this crisis.
The new Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will complement our approach to safe-guard our community. This vaccine will help protect everyone in Listuguj, especially our Elders and the people most at risk.
We can all chip-in by continuing to follow COVID Safety Guidelines and by getting vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Listuguj as of the first or second week of February.
Because of our large population, and the number of individuals who have indicated they would take the vaccine, we are working on our ‘Roll-Out’ Schedule for Listuguj. (See below)
We have already begun calling our Elders aged 60+ to see who is interested in getting the vaccine. We started with our Elders over the age of 80, to ensure that those who are ‘most at risk’ will get the vaccine first should they wish to do so.
Our COVID Vaccine Roll-Out Schedule is published below. Links to websites with detailed information on the vaccine here in Canada will be released through official LMG media channels over the coming weeks.
Even when the vaccine arrives in our community, the crisis will still be a threat for some time. We need to continue keeping each other safe. We all need to do our part and follow COVID Safety Guidelines:
- Wash our hands often
- Wear a mask
- Stay 2 meters apart
- Avoid gatherings
Together, we can do this. To learn more about the best ways to protect yourself and others, or to get the facts about vaccines, please visit the LMG Website or Canada.ca/coronavirus.
Listuguj COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out Schedule
Group #1: Critical workers including Health & Social Services workers with direct contact with clients;
Community Members aged 80+ (born before 1939);
Group #2: Individuals between the ages of 60 – 79 years old;
Group #3: Individuals under the age of 60 with a chronical illness;
Group #4: Essential workers/employees
Group #5: Balance of adult population 18+ years old.
Brighter Futures Community Notice
In light of the restrictions placed on our students due to COVID-19, the Listuguj Community Health Services Brighter Future Program wants to support outdoor activities to encourage physical and mental health and well-being.
The Brighter Futures program will now be accepting receipts for outdoor EQUIPMENT, such as skates, helmets, snowshoes, hockey sticks, sleds, etc. They will not reimburse for winter clothing items.
This incentive is available to students who have not yet accessed our program for their Winter Extracurricular activities.
All receipts are subject for review/approval.
For more information, contact Wanda Metallic at (418) 788-2155.
Community Notice – NB Access
Access across the bridge for essential goods and services has been a long-standing fight that was resolved through the efforts of Chief Darcy Gray and the negotiations team. The result has been that Listuguj residents can access groceries and other essential services across the bridge.
The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (LMG) would like to remind all residents that travel across the bridge for non-essential purposes (e.g. Tim Horton’s, restaurant dining) is unadvised. The LMG has been informed that New Brunswick peace officers may refuse entry to residents who repeatedly cross for non-essential purposes.
We also urge you to use accurate contact information when registering to enter New Brunswick. Using fake phone numbers or numbers such as the Listuguj Police Department Emergency number is irresponsible and dangerous. Public Health will require your proper contact information should you come in close contact with a positive case and need to self-isolate.
It is important to remember that we all have a responsibility to our loved ones and our community to keep each other safe by following the health and safety protocols put in place.
You can ensure our continued access to essential goods and services by limiting your travel to Restigouche County twice per week. Essential goods and services are outlined below:
- Necessities of life (e.g. groceries, clothing, etc.) and supporting services (e.g. butchers for hunted game);
- Health care (e.g. prescriptions, medical equipment & supplies, etc.). Health care travelers may be accompanied by a support person;
- Goods and services required for work or employment;
- Banking and financial institutions;
- Transportation (e.g. automobile repair);
- Custody arrangements;
- Animal care; and
- Funerals and visitations of deceased immediate family members.
**Please note that these guidelines do not affect residents travelling for work purposes, dialysis, or other medical appointments.
