St Mary’s First Nation
150 Cliffe Street, Fredericton, NB E3A 0A1
- (506) 458-9511 T.F. (888) 445-6644
November 8, 2021
Notice of Positive COVID-19 Tests In SMFN
St. Mary’s First Nation has been made aware of a cluster of positive COVID-19 tests within the community. New Brunswick Public Health is advising communities treat all positive rapid tests as presumptive cases and has asked the individuals to isolate and seek PCR tests. If PCR testing confirms these cases as positive, Public Health will issue an exposure notification for the times which the infected individuals were present and begin contact tracing. SMFN EMO has been activated and is acting to fully sanitize the areas which the individuals visited.
Upon the first positive result for the test, an individual was sent home, their area was sanitized, and immediate contacts were asked to take rapid COVID-19 tests. This testing yielded additional positive test results and as result all large gatherings in the community and all programming at Maqiyahtimok has been put on hold for the remainder of this week for deep cleaning in the affected sites while waiting for PCR test results. A reassessment of the situation will take place Wednesday, with more information being provided then.
Chief and Council continue to urge our community to follow best practices regarding prevention of transmission of COVID-19, including wearing masks, washing/sanitizing your hands frequently, staying home when feeling ill, getting vaccinated, and maintaining physical distance when possible. We ask you please do your part in keeping the community safe. Community members who exhibit symptoms are urged to contact Public Health or the St. Mary’s Health Centre to arrange for rapid testing. Anyone with questions about COVID-19, testing or vaccination can call the Health Centre to speak to a health worker who can answer their questions.
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