FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2020

COVID19 WEEKLY UPDATE FOR THE 

FORT HALL RESERVATION

FH COVID chart: updated as of October 27, 2020 at 12:00PM 

Fort Hall- the Tribal Office of Emergency Management (TOEM) officially report the weekly number of COVID-19 cases on the Fort Hall Reservation. The total number of tribal members impacted by COVID-19 is currently at 387 cases (this number includes positives and recovered) since the pandemic started in early April 2020. Of the 387 cases, 33 are currently positive and being monitored, 342 have recovered, 2 are currently hospitalized, and there are 11 reported deaths due to COVID-19. 

State Goes to Stage 3- Joyce Broadsword, Tribal Programs Manager for the State of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare states in an email, “Idaho passed 60,000 positive cases and 580 deaths today [as of October 26th]. The state’s hospitals are at or near capacity. Governor Little moved the state back to a modified stage 3. Please encourage all you know to practice social distancing, hand sanitation and wear a mask even if there is no statewide mandate it is the smart thing to do.”  

Fort Hall Incident Commander Eric King also states, “wear your facemask at all times in the public to keep your fellow co-workers and family members safe. Take self-responsibility to make sure that you are using all safety precautions.” 

We stress to everyone– Stay at home if you’re sick, wash your hands, social distance by staying 6 feet apart.  If you do go to a funeral or gathering, please wear a mask and try to stay 6 feet apart from other people.  Both I.H.S and HRSA offer free testing on the Reservation. If you think you have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 or have symptoms, call the IHS hotline at 208-238-5494 (Monday-Friday 8-5PM). 

If you are contacted by a ‘Contact Tracer’, it means that you were in close contact with someone that tested positive for COVID-19 and you will be instructed to schedule a COVID-19 test immediately and quarantine. Quarantining is important and to check if you develop COVID-19 symptoms and reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. If you get a message from a Contact Tracer, please return the phone call back immediately, so they can provide support.

COVID symptoms include a fever (temperature 100.4 or higher), cough, shortness of breath, headache, muscle and body aches, sore throat, fatigue/extreme tiredness, GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and loss of taste and smell. Each of our Tribal health centers, including I.H.S, Tribal Health and HRSA have tribal contact tracers actively monitoring positive individuals. 

Flu Shots- It is especially important in these times to be protected from other sicknesses like the flu.  Please visit the I.H.S. clinic from now until Friday, October 30, 2020, to get a free flu shot.

For Tribal employees (repeated message), including the Casino Hotel and Tribal Enterprises, if you are scheduled to have COVID-19 test, DO NOT return to work. Please quarantine yourself from work and family until you get your test results back and are cleared to return to work from the health official. This safeguards others from being exposed. Contact your Supervisor immediately when you schedule a test and do not return back to work. 

Join us this Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 12PM for a Facebook LIVE update from the Chairman, Emergency Incident Commander and CDC representatives on COVID-19 strategies to reduce COVID-19 spread. 

For any health concerns and if you develop symptoms, please call Fort Hall Indian Health Service (I.H.S) at (208) 238-5494 (Monday-Friday, 8-5PM) or Community Health Center (HRSA) 208-478-3987. For tribal resources check out the Tribes COVID19 website at http://sbtribes.com/covid-19/.   

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