Walpole Island not extending bridge closure, face coverings required in indoor spaces

Walpole Island First Nation Council agreed on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 that the bridge checkpoint will not be extended past August 31, 2020.

Walpole Island officials say the state of emergency is still in place and Chief and Council will continue to monitor based on community feedback and advice from our Health Team and Emergency Operations Control Group.

Non-members, non-residents, and all workers will be permitted to cross through the bridge starting September 1, 2020.

“We’ve seen decreases in the number of cases of COVID-19 here and in the surrounding communities,” stated Chief Daniel Miskokomon.

“We will continue to monitor these numbers and ask that everyone continue to follow physical distancing guidelines and face covering recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Also, at the meeting Chief and Council approved a recommendation for face coverings for indoor spaces on Walpole Island First Nation.

Walpole Island officials say the Walpole Island Health Centre supports the implementation of the use of face coverings on Walpole Island First Nation and recommends these guidelines:

– CDC recommends all people two years of age and older wear a face covering, if tolerated, in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

– Face coverings should be worn at enclosed public spaces such as businesses, places of worship, arena, library, pharmacy, any paid transportation (taxi’s/medical transportation).

– Residents will be required to provide their own face coverings.

– Who should be exempt from wearing face coverings: children under the age of two, anyone who has trouble breathing, anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

– For those residents unable to wear a face covering – face shield can be an alternative; face shield must wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend below the chin.

– Face shield would not be considered an equal substitute for a face mask as it does not provide filtering capacity. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of face shields as a “better than nothing” alternative to face coverings.

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