July 1, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Hall- the Tribal Office of Emergency Management (TOEM) received official notification from the Fort Hall Indian Health Service (I.H.S) Unit of three (3) new positive COVID-19 patients on the Fort Hall Reservation. Tribal Health and Human Services (THHS) in conjunction with Southeast Idaho Public Health District 6 are following protocols that include daily monitoring for 14 days to ensure their needs are met and they are following the self-isolation guidelines as outlined in the Tribal government requirements.

Information received stated one (1) male and two (2) females tested positive. Detail information on county, age and condition was not available at time of issuing this press release. This now makes a total of fifteen (15) cases with six (6) recovered and nine (9) currently being monitored on the Fort Hall Reservation. Further information will be sent out when it becomes available.

TOEM and Tribal Health department will continue to monitor the situation closely and are working with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Tribal leaders, schools, emergency management, healthcare providers, and our community at large to help prevent the spread of this virus. 

We encourage families to help “do your part’ by communicating with your loved ones to take action on implement good habits to prevent the spread of germs, here are some helpful tips: 

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.

3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, place the tissue immediately into a trash can. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands.

4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand, rub with at least 60% alcohol. Gently massage soap for 20 minutes prior to rinse.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good healthy habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

For any health concerns, please call the Idaho COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-330-3010. For more information and updates on Coronavirus cases, please visit: www.cdc.gov or visit the Tribes COVID website at www.sbtribes.com

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