Incident Command: No positive cases among 62 tested at Wildhorse

MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center conducted a COVID-19 testing clinic at the Wildhorse Casino on Tuesday, June 23, according to a news release from the Incident Command Team (ICT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Five representatives from Yellowhawk tested 62 Wildhorse employees from 8 a.m. to noon. All 62 of those tests were negative.

There are currently five cases of COVID-19 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR). To date, Yellowhawk has conducted 501 tests for COVID-19, 496 of which have returned negative. 

 As of today the counties in the CTUIR ceded territory have reported the following new cases of COVID-19 in the past week: Benton (261), Umatilla (185), Union (56), Morrow (21), Walla Walla (21), Baker (0), Columbia (0), Grant (0).

The CTUIR Incident Command Team has developed 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, according to the news release.

The ICT has 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 the tribal community.

 Yellowhawk patients will be tested by appointment if they have COVID-19 symptoms or if they are a known contact of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test. Patients should call Yellowhawk at 541-966-9830 if they have questions about whether they should be tested.

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center will share current totals for COVID-19 cases on the UIR and Yellowhawk test results each weekday. These updates can be found on Yellowhawk’s website at yellowhawk.org or on Yellowhawk’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Yellowhawk4U.