Press Release from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
For immediate release: March 16, 2020
Contact:
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 5:33pm today, Oregon now has a total of 47 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, after the Oregon Health Authority announced eight new presumptive positive cases of the novel coronavirus.
OHA is reporting 2 new cases each in Benton and Deschutes Counties; and 1 new case in each of the following counties: Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington.
Current CTUIR guidelines/updates as of March 16, 2020 at 6:00pm are as follows:
- Kate Brown ordered restaurants and bars to move to takeout or deliver only and banned gatherings of 25 or more in Oregon , starting Tuesday, March 17
- The CTUIR will move tribal government operations into contingency mode enacted no later than Wednesday March 18, 2020. Under contingency mode the CTUIR’s current objective is to further isolate the Reservation and workforce from contact with outside communities that are now, or will soon experience outbreaks, some of those efforts include:
- The BOT will release tribal government employees for the week of March 23 -March 27th.
- The BOT will not meet next week but will reconvene the week of March 30 by teleconference.
- Public access to the Nixyaawii Governance Center will be limited to minimize unnecessary presence in the Governance Center. Public access will only be available at the main visitors’ entrance in the rotunda, and will have a visitor screening station set up. All other entrances will be accessible by key-card only.
- CTUIR government payroll will issue paychecks/direct deposit on Friday March 20th.
- CTUIR Department of Children is taking phone calls for elders or vulnerable citizens in need. That number is 541-429-7300.
- Effective Wednesday, March 18, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center will be providing essential services only. This includes:
- Medical appointments only if screened by nursing staff over the phone prior. Routine appointments in all clinics will be postponed at this time.
- For Dr. James Winde call LaShay at 240.8655
- For Elizabeth Sieders call Mikhy at 240.8639
- For Colleen Thurman call Alicia at 240.8637
- Lab or x-ray appointments, please call 240.8755
- Pharmacy appointments and for Diabetes sensor changes or INR monitoring, please call 240.8691
- Dental will be providing emergency walk-ins only, such as pain and swelling. Dental can be reached at 240.8698
- Chemical Dependency will be providing individual sessions by phone. Call Behavioral Health at 240.8695
- Treatment groups will be reduced to 3 per week and adapted to serve a broader treatment population. The following groups will continue to meet: DUII/A&D Education Group; A&D Education/Relapse Prevention Group. Yellowhawk staff will notify clients about these Treatment Group scheduling adjustments. All other groups are suspended until further notice.
- Mental Health telepsych will be provided by phone and therapists will provide phone-based sessions to established clients. Call Behavioral Health at 240.8625 or 541.969.0071
- Community Wellness will continue to provide Community Health Nursing, Community Health Representative and Transportation services, please call 240.8412. Nixyáawii Senior Center will provide meal delivery for elders over age 55 call 541.240.8700. WIC services will be available by phone call 541.240.8521.
- Yellowhawk Pick-up or Delivery for Higher-Risk Patients:
- If you are age 60 years and older, or have chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease or lung disease Yellowhawk Pharmacy encourages you to have a family member pick up your medications whenever possible. If pick-up cannot be arranged, Yellowhawk Pharmacy can offer medication deliveries. Please contact the pharmacy with your medication order at 541-240-8691. If you receive the pharmacy messaging service, please leave a message with your name, phone number, and names of the medications being requested. Be sure to also request medication delivery if needed. Medication deliveries will be picked up at the pharmacy at 1:00 PM daily, Monday through Friday, and will be delivered by our Community Wellness Department staff.
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.
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