COVID-19 Update from the AFN Health Director

Published: March 18 2020 16:23

March 18, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE (March 18, 2020)

The COVID-19 virus is now in Nova Scotia. We will work with Nova Scotia Public Health to prepare and respond to the virus. There are no vaccines for COVID-19. It is important to remember that most people who get the virus will have mild or moderate symptoms and will not require hospitalization. Good hygiene remains the best defence. Social distancing of 6 feet (2 metres) is also very important.

You are encouraged to:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer; avoid hand shakes; wash your hands before and after preparing food; wash hands after handling waste
• Cough or sneeze into your inner elbow or a tissue (throw tissue away)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid sharing items that may have saliva on them like utensils and bottles/glasses
• Wash and sanitize surfaces like taps, doorknobs, light switches, toilets, and countertops daily
• Sanitize remote controls, cell phones, phones, and other hand-held devices
• Avoid close contact – stay 6 feet apart (2 meters); avoid crowds; shop during off-peak hours
• Limit contact with others if you feel sick

Travel-related:

• You must self-isolate (stay home) for 14 days after returning from travel outside of Canada and monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19; limit your contact with the elderly, those with compromised immune systems (e.g. cancer treatments), and those with chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and COPD
• You must self-isolate (stay home) for 14 days if you have been in close contact (within 2 metres/6 feet) with someone with confirmed COVID-19, or someone with symptoms who has recently returned to Canada and monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19; limit your contact with the elderly, those with compromised immune systems (e.g. cancer treatments), and those with chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and COPD

Symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever above 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
• New cough (or one that gets worse)
• Difficulty breathing

If you feel unwell:

• And develop a new cough or fever (above 38°C or 100.4°F) within 14 days of returning from travel outside of Canada or have been in close contact with someone who has travelled or has confirmed COVID-19, immediately self-isolate (stay home) and complete the questionnaire at https://when-to-call-about-covid19.novascotia.ca/en before calling 811 to find out if you need testing for COVID-19.
• Do not go to a COVID-19 assessment site unless 811 asks you to go there.
• Do not come to the AFN Health Centre if you have a fever or new cough
• Avoid close contact with older people, or those with chronic conditions and compromised immune systems.
• Avoid having visitors to your home.
• Avoid crowds and standing in line.
• Avoid public transit like buses and taxis.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer.
• Cover your nose and mouth with your arm when sneezing or coughing.

For more information on COVID-19, including how to self-isolate, visit canada.ca/coronavirus or novascotia.ca/coronavirus. Or call the Government of Canada’s toll-free information line at 1-833-784-4397. If you feel anxious about COVID-19 and need to talk with someone, call the toll-free Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-888-429-8167.

Marla Robinson-Pyne
Health Director, Acadia First Nation
Yarmouth Health Centre
15234 Hwy 3
Yarmouth NS
B5A4A8
Phone: (902)742-4337
Fax: (902)742-4824

Notice from Acadia FN Chief and Council

Published: March 18 2020 11:20

Notice

On Monday March 16 Council met with EMO to address Pandemic planning in our communities.

Council approved additional funding supports for all Elders and Social assistance recipients. Councillors have been contacting every elder personally to check in with them and notify them of this support. Elders are being advised to stay home and have others pick up supplies for them. In cases where they do not have family to pick up supplies they should contact their council members. Councillors have already offered to assist Elders pick up supplies when needed.

Due to confidentiality our social recipients will be contacted directly by our Social support staff. Only our Social Admin staff have access to this list.

We will also be providing extra assistance to our students who are not living at home. They will be contacted directly.

- Acadia FN Chief & Council

Pandemic Planning | AFN | Public Website Update | 03/17/2020

Published: March 17 2020 09:48

Pandemic Planning
Acadia First Nation
Public Website Update
March 16, 2020

The leadership of Acadia First Nation has been working diligently to identify what is deemed to be in the best interest on Acadia Band members and their employees. Direction to band members must remain consistent with the message being passed on through the Nova Scotia Regional Health Authority and the Government of Canada. In reference to the latest updates the following has been decided by Chief and Council in consultation with AFN business managers and Emergency Planning personnel.

1.  Acadia First Nation Administration Staff
   The administration staff in the various offices throughout the six Acadia First nation Communities will work in their respective offices until March 19th, 2020. The offices are closed to the public at the present time and will remain closed until further notice.
   The Administration staff will continue to work for Acadia First Nation but from home starting on March 23rd and continue through to April 3rd, 2020. At this time further decisions will be made by Chief and Council based on the ongoing updates provided through the provincial and federal governments
2. Store Operations
   The following has been decided by Chief and Council in consultation with Store Managers.
   
   1. Gold Nugget / Gold Bean
      
      • The Gold Nugget has closed access to its Gaming Centers in Gold River and all other AFN operated gaming centers until further notice.
      • The store has closed access to its convenience store however all items including tobacco and gas can be accessed through the drive through window located onsite.
      • The Gold Bean restaurant will be closed until further Notice.
      • The Gold Nugget new store hours will be from 6 am to 10 pm
   2. Winners World / Winner One Stop
      • The Winners World will close access to its convenience store as of Wednesday March 17th at 6 am.
      • The Winners Onestop will close its restaurant to the public but remain open for Take Out orders while providing support for convenience store items.
      • The Winners World gaming centers will remain closed until further notice
      • The new hours for the Winners World are 6 am to 10 pm
      • The new Winners Onestop hours will be from 11 am to 7 pm.
      • All Convenience store requests for tobacco and food will be requested and paid for through the drive through window.
   3. The Hammonds Plains Entertainment Center
      • The Hammonds Plains gaming center will remain closed until further notice
      • The new store hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 8 pm
      • The front door to the convenience location will be closed from March 18 until further notice
      • Any convenience store requests or tobacco requests will be conducted through the drive-in window
   4. The Medway Store
      • The Medway store will remain open during its regular store hours
      • The Medway staff will work to assist patrons where possible to limit entry into the convenience store as much as possible. The Medway Store does not have a drive through window but provides local band members with a number of required items. This will be monitored on a day to day basis.
   5. The Bingo Hall/ Entertainment Centre - Yarmouth
      • All Bingo has been cancelled until further notice
      • All gaming has been cancelled until further notice
      • The quota / retail tobacco sales will follow new store hours. Store hours will be Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 6 pm.
   6. The AFN Youth Center
      • The Youth Center is closed until further notice
   7. Rental of AFN Space for Gathering
      • All community centers are closed for coordinated gatherings until further notice. No planned gatherings until further notice

Other Points of Interest:

1. For questions on the treatment of this illness please stay tuned to the news feeds both on TV as well as updated provided online through the Nova Scotia Health Authority. If you have questions for our health department , the Health Director can be contacted at
   
2. All on and off reserve requests will be halted for the foreseeable future. Carpentry staff will be used only on call out emergent purposes.

Thank you again for all your understanding in this challenging period of time. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated

Sincerely,

Lloyd Mac Dougall
Band manager
Acadia First Nation

COVID-19 Visitation and Warning Signs

Published: March 17 2020 09:08

Below are some files which you can download and print to help with COVID-19 awareness and safe practices

Self Isolation STOP sign:

Click Here

Safe Practices STOP sign:

Click Here

No Visitors STOP sign:

Click Here

Regarding COVID-19 Assessment Centres

Published: March 12 2020 20:31

Please visit the below link to find information regarding the recently established COVID-19 Assessment Centres.

https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus

COVID-19 Information and Updates | March 11, 2020

Published: March 11 2020 11:16

Coronavirus – Update #7

March 10, 2020

NSHA has opened initial COVID-19 assessment centres across the province

HALIFAX, N.S. – Nova Scotia Health Authority has opened COVID-19 assessment centres across the province. These assessment centres will further support efforts to identify and contain COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Nova Scotia where, to date, no cases have been confirmed.

The dedicated assessment centres are intended to help lessen current pressures in emergency departments, while also decreasing the possibility of transmission among the public. 

“We expedited opening these COVID-19 assessment centres to respond to increased assessment demand as a result of the change in national screening protocols,” said Dr. Todd Hatchette, Chief of Microbiology, Nova Scotia Health Authority.

The change in national screening protocols means that anyone who has travelled outside Canada may have come in contact with the novel coronavirus and should closely monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the country. Travellers who start to feel unwell should stay at home/self-isolate from the public.

Nova Scotians who have travelled out of country and who develop a fever with a temperature of 38°C or higher, and/or cough, should call 811.

811 will provide direction on what to do next. If there is a need for in-person assessment, 811 will refer to a COVID-19 assessment centre.

Please do not go to a COVID-19 assessment centre without having been referred by 811. We are working to be able to book specific appointment times in the coming days.

Those directed to an assessment centre by 811 will then have a physical assessment on site and based on that a swab will be taken for patients for whom it is appropriate.

In the event a person requires more urgent care, 811 will provide advice on accessing emergency departments.

“We want Nova Scotians to be able to access the right care, in the right setting, at the right times,” said Dr. Hatchette. ““The resources of our health system are already strained by the seasonal flu and other demands. These COVID-19 assessment centres are another measure that will focus our work on testing those who most require it and to also help lessen the pressure on the rest of our system. We ask for the public’s patience and cooperation as we respond to this quickly evolving situation.”

NSHA will continue to monitor this evolving situation and will respond in step with Department of Health and Wellness and other health system partners.

The initial locations are at:

• Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney
• Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville
• South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater
• Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth
• Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro
• East Side Collaborative Practice, New Glasgow
• Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Amherst
• Cobequid Community Health Centre, Lower Sackville

Additional assessment centres will open in the coming days. Updates will be available at www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus.

811 will have up to date information and will provide current information to those needing access to a centre for assessment.