COVID-19 Update Message from CSFS CEO Warner Adam

March 13, 2020

Hadih! I am sharing this message today to update communities on the work Carrier Sekani Family Services is undertaking to respond to the quickly evolving COVID-19 situation. CSFS takes the health and safety of its staff and community members seriously, and it is our priority to ensure we can provide guidance to all of you in the weeks and months ahead.
 
With the virus now being declared a pandemic, CSFS’s top priority is to ensure each person in the Nations we serve are supported and safe. We know this is a stressful time for everyone. We want to assure you that we are working as quickly and proficiently as possible to ensure the health and safety of community members. 
 
CSFS has called together an Emergency Response Committee. The team is meeting daily to monitor developments and plan next steps. CSFS representatives are in constant contact with health officials and using collaborative tools to consider and plan next steps. We have reached out to each member Nation to identify committee liaisons so we can coordinate prevention and, if needed, response efforts.
 
At this time there are no known cases of COVID-19 among our communities. It is important that we focus on taking a preventative approach to avoid spreading the virus, while simultaneously preparing for all possibilities.
 
CSFS is conducting business as usual, however, we have taken the following preventative actions:
 
* Our staff are being asked to stay at home if they are feeling under the weather
* We are practicing the preventative precautions set out in the infographic attached, to avoid the spread of germs
* All non-essential work-related air travel has been cancelled, as determined on a case-by-case basis
* All CSFS events of 250+ people have been postponed, with risk determination for smaller events taking place on a case-by-case basis
* All non-essential meetings and training events have been cancelled/postponed as determined on a case-by-case basis
* CSFS is taking extra precaution to thoroughly clean and disinfect shared workspaces
* As a precaution, employees who have returned from travel to another country within the past 14 days have been strongly recommended to practice self-isolation by working from home to avoid direct contact with other staff or community members. Self-isolation is mandatory for any CSFS Staff members who have traveled to a country with an active travel health notice as noted by Canada Public Health.
* We have developed a graphic with this message which has been printed and hung up in CSFS offices and around communities to remind people of how they can reduce the risk for spread of the virus to other community members
 
We are encouraging everyone to get the latest information on COVID-19, available at the BC Centre for Disease Control website at http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)#Community--resources. For additional help, people are encouraged to call the virus information line at 1 833-784-4397, or dial 811 to reach the Nurse Health Line.
 
In closing, I ask that we work together to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and do what we can to support each other. One of the greatest strengths of our people is our care and compassion for one another in times of need. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of the health care professionals working hard in our communities during these challenging times.
 
 
Warner Adam
Chief Executive Officer
Carrier Sekani Family Services

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