‘Everybody’s concerned’: Kahnawake deals with red alert status after rise in COVID-19 cases

Health officials say they are gaining control of the COVID-19 situation in Kahnawake after the Mohawk community west of Montreal was placed on red alert last week.

This comes after COVID-19 cases spiked – there are 29 active cases and nearly 70 people isolating.

The rise in cases is being attributed to children who are spreading the novel coronavirus.

“Most of our vaccinated community members who have become positive, it’s because of exposure to their children,” said Lisa Westaway, the executive director of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre. “In Kahnawake, there are a lot of connections. You could have a child whose parent happens to be a teacher in one of the high schools, or whose siblings are at one of the other schools, or in another classroom within the daycare.

“So there are many, many connections which put our community at an increased vulnerability.”

READ: Kahnawake community getting hit harder by COVID’s fourth wave in Quebec

Most of Kahnawake’s cases stem from the region’s four to five-year-olds despite safety protocols in schools.

Westaway believes the spike occurred in students who were off and had not been tested, then returned to their classrooms and transmitted the virus to others and their families.

“That’s not uncommon for multi-families living together, grandparents living with their grandchildren,” said Lloyd Phillips, Kahnawake’s commissioner of public safety. “So if they’re unvaccinated or become positive, it’s very difficult for them to isolate a youngster.”

Cases are stemming from four clusters, but the number of infected is expected to rise in the coming days.

Ryan Montour, the public safety portfolio chief, is among those surprised by the spike. But he says the community is coming together and helping each other.

“This came about in like two to three days in a row, it was very surprising,” he said. “So I think community members are apprehensive about the situation right now. They are taking it serious.

“The people and their friends, they all help out right away. They’ll deliver food for them, they’ll do their groceries for them, they’ll help out. Of course, everybody’s concerned.”

Westaway says 80 per cent of Kahnawake’s active cases are among unvaccinated individuals. And to date, just over 100 children aged five to 11 years old in the community have gotten their first dose of the vaccine.

“My grandson went yesterday,” said Phillips. “He’s five years old and I love him with all my heart, I would give him my heart if he needed it, but he’ll be first in line when he got his vaccine. It’s personal for all of us as well.”

Added Montour: “We’re strong people, we are going to get through this. There’s nothing that can destroy us.”