LFN COVID-19 Information and Resources

Everyone in Lytton has a responsibility to practice Physical Distancing. This is important because people infected with COVID-19 can spread the virus for days before developing symptoms. Studies so far have shown that the virus can survive for up to several days on surfaces, especially plastic, metal, and stainless steel. This means keeping a physical distance of at least 6 feet or 2 metres between yourself and anyone that you do not live with. Do not share rides or car pool and avoid taxis if at all possible. It also means no public gatherings, visiting other houses, entertaining visitors, or playdates for kids. We must all avoid public spaces, including playgrounds. Please assign only one person from your house, who does not have any flu-like symptoms, to go out for essential errands. 

Staying Safe is simple: Wash your hands, clean the things you touch, avoid people (and the things people touch). 

Staying Active: We can open the windows to get fresh air and sun shining, get outside and work in the yard, go for walks and hikes and go for a drive. Kids can absolutely play outside in the yard and ride their bikes with people that they live with. Staying active, exercising, and getting fresh air and sunshine is a great way to spend time while practicing Physical Distancing. 

Staying Connected: We can still find ways to support each other from physical distance. Reach out to family, friends, and elders. Getting a phone call, facetime, or a text can brighten someone's day. It is also a great time to see if elders and people at higher risk need supplies. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like surgical masks, gloves, and face shields are to be used by health personnel and first responders only. This is because there is a worldwide shortage of PPE. 

However, it is proven that people infected with COVID can spread the virus through respiratory droplets even if they have no COVID symptoms. You can protect those around you by wearing a non-medical mask whenever you go out in public or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of 2 meters. It is important to know how to put on and remove PPE safely to avoid infection. Here is a link to information on how to make non-medical masks: [Link]

People in self-isolation and those with symptoms should not be going out in public at all but may want to wear a mask if they are interacting with other members in their household. If you do not have PPE available, stick with frequent handwashing, regular cleaning and sanitization of your home and high touch surfaces, and Physical Distancing. 

The very best prevention is washing hands very frequently, not touching your face, and practicing Physical Distancing. 

See "How to self isolate for Caregivers" link on this page.

Please visit [Link] for more info. If you suspect you have had contact with a person with Covid, you must self-isolate immediately for at least 14 days, even if you have NO SYMPTOMS.

If anyone in your house develops even MILD SYMPTOMS, including allergy symptoms, call 8-1-1 for advice and guidance.  At minimum, if you have symptoms, everyone in the house must Self- Isolate for a period of 10 days from the start of symptoms.  If during that time, anyone else in the house develops symptoms, then start the 10-day clock back at zero.  Your house can only stop self-isolating once no fevers and no new symptoms have been observed for 10 days.  Even after mild cases of COVID-19, a person can have a persistent cough for quite a while. A persistent cough will not restart the 14-day clock if all other symptoms have resolved.

Most healthy people will experience flu-like symptoms and then recover.  For some individuals, symptoms can become more severe.  If you develop breathing problems, or any other emergency health problems, dial 9-1-1.  

To reduce the rate of infection, the LFN Band office is currently closed to the public and most staff are working from home. During the closure, emails and phone calls will be forwarded during office hours to staff at home. 

Processing and direct deposit of cheques will continue uninterrupted. 

Essential Services will continue. 

The playground equipment at Stein Valley School will be closed for now. It cannot be sanitized well enough or often enough to protect your children. 

LFN has an Emergency Response Plan and through that activated a Level 2 Emergency Operations Centre. The EOC will take over the essential operations of LFN and will develop plans of action to prepare and coordinate LFN resources to best serve our Membership and their families. 

The goals of the EOC are to:

1) Provide for the safety and health of all responders

2) Save live 

3) Reduce suffering

4) Protect public health 

5) Protection critical infrastructure

6) Protect property

7) Protect the environment

8) Reduce economic and social losses

Lytton First Nation EOC team are developing a strategy to assist members in dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. The EOC has received confirmation that funds will be available to assist in 3 different allocations:

1. Immediate needs - income assistance clients

2. Emergency coordination

3. All Member support

EOC management team is working closely with LFN Finance Committee and Leadership to define how these funds are going to be disbursed. In the coming days this strategy will be communicated to members. 

Lytton First Nation is a strong and resilient community who has weathered our way through many challenges. With out teachings and our values, we can work together in these challenging times. Let's stay calm, stay practical, and look after each other. 

EOC Contact Information:

General Inquiries - EOCinfo@lfn.band

Director - EOCdirector@lfn.band

Operations - EOCoperations@lfn.band

Plans - EOCplans@lfn.band

Logistics - EOClogistics@lfn.band 

Finance - EOCfinance@lfn.band

Safety Officer - EOCsafety@lfn.band

The Federal Government is offering a whole range of economic supports including beefing up the child tax benefit by an extra $300 per child and increasing the gst credit for lower income individuals. If you already receive these benefits regularly, you do not need to apply. The benefits will be automatically topped up.

There are also massively expanding EI benefits to cover people that otherwise would not have qualified for EI. This website has all of the most up to date information on how to access Federal economic supports: [Link]

As programs roll out from the Federal Government, it would be beneficial to create or update your My Service Canada Account.  You can do this by visiting [This Link]

Here is a video on how to create a My Service Canada Account: https://youtu.be/xW_1xRux6bw  

Service Canada has also set up a separate phone line 1-833-381-2725 to address Covid 19 EI claims only for:  

1) Quarantine 

2) Illness 

3) Work Closure due to Covid 19  

All other regular claims through regular process.

There is also emergency/disaster supplement funding available to support communities under the Income Assistance program of Indigenous Services Canada.  It their intention to provide the same level of funding as that of the Province of BC which has recently expanded eligibility to assist during this period.  

Visit [This Link] to find out more. 

You can also contact the Band Social Development Worker contact for all IA questions.  Or call 1-888-440-4080, or by email: aadnc.tsdbsoutien-bsdwsupport-bc.aandc@canada.ca. 

The Provincial Government is also providing economic supports that may help you. The B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will provide a one-time $1,000 payment to people who lost income because of COVID-19. B.C. residents who receive federal Employment Insurance, or the new federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit are eligible. Applications for the one-time payment will open soon. 

The Province has also put a moratorium on rent increases and evictions, and is providing a fund for rent supports. There is a crisis fund for overdue utility bills. And there is also information about mortgage payment deferrals through your bank. 

To find out more about all of the Provincial economic supports please visit: [Link]