Oki,
We ask you to share this information with your family and others who do not have access to our online resources.
- Chief and Council are updated by the DEM and BTDH at regular meetings
- Blood Tribe Emergency Management meets every Wednesday
- *Blood Tribe Department of Health holds daily briefings*
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
- AHS Confirms COVID-19 Variant is Superseding Regular COVID-19 Virus for Active Cases Being Identified in Province of Alberta:
Alberta Health Services has confirmed with the DEM; the COVID-19 variant is now superseding the regular COVID-19 virus for active cases being identified in the Province of Alberta. The DEM strongly recommends all Tribal members to STAY HOME, whether on or off reserve, for the next two weeks if possible to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 variant and keep each other safe. The Brazillian variant virus is very dangerous, and the DEM stresses they do not want to see it enter our community. At this time, the DEM is also reminding and encouraging all Tribal members who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine to make arrangements with the BTDH Vaccine Clinic to book one. Your effort will help the reserve reach herd immunity and slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
2. Caution Notice – COVID-19 Super Spreader Events:
Blood Tribe Chief and Council want our community to be aware of super spreader events being held off-reserve, like the Anti-Mask Rally in Cardston on Saturday, April 10, 2021. These events can potentially infect many people with the COVID-19 virus and variant, and our Chief and Council want to ensure we keep the community safe. The Blood Reserve has strived to maintain strict COVID-19 safety measures during this pandemic and does not want to see the collective efforts of our Tribal members go to waste in terms of trying to reduce the active case numbers for the COVID-19 virus and variant on the reserve.
Chief and Council are very concerned about the overall safety of our Tribal members, especially our children attending school in communities off-reserve and our bus drivers who transport them. They do not want to see any bus driver becoming infected, putting our children at risk riding the buses to off-reserve community schools. Chief and Council are stressing to all Tribal members to be careful when entering communities where these super spreader events were held, as there is a higher risk of getting infected with the COVID-19 virus days and weeks after. Please make sure to maintain at least 2 metres (6 feet) of physical distance and wear a mask at all times. Remember to wash or sanitize hands immediately after entering or leaving any business or making contact with high-touch areas.
3. COVID-19 Testing:
Remember, the Blood Tribe DEM does request regular COVID-19 testing for all, who travel from surrounding communities onto the Blood Reserve for work. Remember, if you have asymptomatic symptoms, you can still get tested in the BTDH parking lot at the mobile medical unit from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. https://bloodtribe.org/index.php/covid-19-updates/
4. Vaccine Rollout:
The Vaccine Clinic for PHASE 2A & 2B is open and the Blood Tribe Department of Health staff are currently scheduling appointments for the Blood Tribe members between the ages of 18 to 64 to receive their first dose of Moderna. This age group includes Tribal members with and without Chronic Conditions. Please be advised, BTDH has identified some special dates for people without chronic conditions to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Please refer to the Blood Tribe COVID-19 Response – Vaccine Clinic Update for March 31, 2021, for the current vaccine clinic’s full details. https://bloodtribe.org/index.php/2021/04/08/blood-tribe-department-of-health-now-offers-new-online-booking-tool-to-schedule-covid-19-vaccine-appointment/
Blood Tribe Department of Health asks for all Tribal members to use their new online booking tool. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the new online tool, you will need to visit www.btdh.ca and click on the green button titled “COVID-19 Vaccine Registration – Phase 2”. After you register your information online, you will receive either a call or text (your choice) back from a BTDH staff worker with an appointment time and date. BTDH asks all Tribal members to help assist any family or friends interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine who don’t have access to the internet to register. Those who need transportation, please call Blood Tribe Family and Community Support Services at (403) 737-2888 or (403) 360-9147.
5. Enhanced Safety Measures for Blood Reserve:
Chief and Council extended the Enhanced Safety Measures Order to continue until April 15, 2021. These orders can be reviewed here:
https://bloodtribe.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=12465&action=edit
- Those under quarantine orders must follow or face penalties
- Curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Restricted travel to essential purposes only
- No social gatherings (public or private) – meetings are restricted to a max. of 10
- No wakes are allowed at residences.
- All Blood Reserve residents are to remain with their own family cohort
- Masks are mandatory
- Physical distancing is required in public places (unless with family cohort)
Continue to Practice Prevention Against COVID-19 by following these guidelines:
- Wear facemasks
- Wash your hands often and well
- Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay at home as much as possible, and practice social (physical) when you do leave home: keep at least 6 feet from others when going out for groceries, medical trips and other essential needs
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
- Stay away from others if you are feeling ill
- When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands
- For COVID-19 Testing questions, please contact your primary health provider or
Blood Tribe COVID-19 Hotline at (403) 737-8411 or Alberta Health Link at 811
- All those interested in sewing homemade masks, please check this website
(Mask Makers YYC): https://www.maskmakersyyc.com/
For continued updates please check:
Blood Tribe Communications and Community Engagement – bloodtribe.org, Facebook ‘Blood Tribe Communications – Tsinikssini’, Blood Tribe Communications Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Stay Safe,
BLOOD TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
