Press Release from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
For immediate release: March 21, 2020
Contacts:
Carrie Sampson-Samuels, Public Information Officer – Public Health, (541) 240-8728
Jiselle Halfmoon, Public Information Officer – Tribal Governance, (541) 969-4801
CTUIR Command Incident Command Status Update
MISSION, Ore. – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Incident Command Team (ICT) is working on several plans to ensure the safety of the entire community. The ICT continues to monitor and manage the emerging situation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a very serious situation with Tribal, Local, National and International implications. As this situation progresses, it increasingly appears that COVID-19 is now in the greater population, so taking immediate measures to slow its spread are imperative – especially to vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations include people above 60 years of age, people who may be immunocompromised or other chronic conditions such as lung disease, heart disease and diabetes.
The ICT will share information on a frequent and regular basis as quickly as decisions are made. They have reviewed and considered all recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as they become available, however, the CTUIR has the authority to choose how the guidance is used in our community.
As of 8:00am today, Oregon now has a total of 137 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, after the Oregon Health Authority announced 23 new cases of the novel coronavirus.
OHA is reporting new cases in the following counties: Clackamas (1), Deschutes (1), Josephine (1), Lane (1), Marion (2), Multnomah (6), Washington (11). Additionally, Oregon Health Authority is reporting that COVID-19 has claimed another life in Oregon, raising Oregon’s death toll from three to four.
Current CTUIR guidelines/updates as of March 21, 2020 at 5:00pm are as follows:
- CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services and Yellowhawk Community Wellness collaborated to distribute donated produce and dairy products from Wildhorse to over 250 community members. This included deliveries of food boxes to elders by CTUIR, Yellowhawk and Nixyáawii Senior Center staff. This outreach will continue for all elder homes as staff work to obtain additional resources and supplies.
- The BOT has released tribal government employees for the week of March 23 through March 27, 2020. Although CTUIR government offices will be closed, essential services will continue.
- The Átaw Miyánašma Learning Center will be closed for the week of March 23 through March 27, 2020. A determination on re-opening the following week will be made on or before March 27, 2020.
- Kayak Public Transit will cease operations for the week of Monday, March 23, 2020 through Saturday, March 28, 2020. Kayak Public Transit will continue to monitor the situation and make a determination regarding the following week on or before March 27, 2020. For updates or inquiries, you may contact Kayak Public Transit dispatch at 541-429-7519.
- Effective at 12 noon on Sunday, March 22, 2020, Wildhorse will be closing the Tower Hotel, Cineplex, Hot Rock Cafe and Wild Roast until further notice.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is made up of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes, formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 statute 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the treaty rights guaranteed under federal statute.
###
