15th COVID 19 UPDATE July 16, 2020
We met yesterday to approve new policies of the First Nation that we would implement upon reopening the Administration. These policies are required in order to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors to our offices.
A new Preventing COVID 19 in the Workplace Policy, Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace Policy, and Heat Stress Prevention and Hot Weather Policy were all on the agenda. These will be made available upon re-opening the Administration.
- Re-opening the Administration/Health Centre/Gas Bar/Daycare/Library
On July 15, 2020, Samantha Bradley HR Coordinator was formally directed to cancel the Staff Meeting scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2020.
It was our intention to re-open the Administration on July 20, 2020, by implementing a rotational schedule for staff to report to work. It was realized as of yesterday, that this unfo11unately is not possible with our Daycare unable to open at this time.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education were invited to the Daycare for a meeting on Monday, July 13, 2020, to assist with their required documentation required to re-open. It was understood that a formal COVID 19 Policy is required. They made it known this Policy is expected to include six mandatory clauses. They also stated that we obtain input from Health Canada to ensure the operation of the Daycare would be safe for both the children and staff that would be servicing our families of the community.
Ray Alatalo, EI-IO visited the Daycare on July 15, 2020, who advised the Daycare Supervisor that the draft Policy that had been prepared required additional considerations and the Daycare would not be ready to begin to accept children on Monday, July 20, 2020.
We understand that in order to re-open our Administration and expect Staff to return to work they will need child care services, but until the Daycare Supervisor can produce a satisfactory policy, we are unable to provide the necessary services and have made the decision to delay our plans to reopen.
We will continue to operate Status Quo, with only essential staff reporting to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, until August 7, 2020. The new date for reopening the Administration is set as August 10, 2020.
The HR Coordinator and the Director of Finance/Administration will coordinate another mandatory staff meeting that staff will be invited to at a later date prior to re-opening.
2. Restricted Access (Roadblocks) Pickerel R Rd. and Bekanon Rd.
The security gates were removed effective July 15, 2020, at 6:00 a.111. We ask that if anyone sees anyone that is attempting to and/or is within the Pickerel River Trailer Park or leased lands that Chief Wayne McQuabbie, Councillor Patrick Brennan, or Councillor Lionel Fox be called
3. Fire Ban
The risk of Fire is still very HIGH. Our Fire Ban remains in place. NOTHING IS PERMITTED: NO FIRES ARE ALLOWED!!!
4. Gatherings
We do not recommend any large gatherings of more than 10; who may include your immediate and extended family members. We also understand that Bars will be allowed to re-open as well this week, but we strongly recommend that you don't frequent these because social distancing will not practiced in these settings.
5. Gas Bar
The Gas Bar is open!!!! New hours of operation.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays;
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. only serving the community, not the public.
6. Student Summer Employment
Interested students in employment will be interviewed on Monday, July 20, 2020, by appointment, Samantha Bradley, HR Coordinator will be contacting applicants. Summer students will begin to work on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
Remember to bring you I.Das you will be required to fill out employment-related forms.
