Weekly COVID-19 update for week of May 12, 2020

IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2020

Weekly COVID-19 update for week of May 12, 2020

The Incident Commander works daily with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team, and here is this week’s update:

  • Fort Hall Business Council has extended Safety Leave and Stay at Home Order until May 15, 2020.  Employees are asked to stay in touch with your supervisors for further details and information.  Other employment-related questions should be directed to the Personnel Department at (208) 478-3850. 
  • The Tribal Government re-opens on Monday, May 18th with added safety shields placed within certain departments that have high traffic. You have the option of returning to work under the terms of your Plan, On Monday, May 11,2020 
  • Extensive COVID-19 related trainings will be offered to tribal employees. A training video on how to use personal protective and equipment is being developed.  All Tribal employees are required to attend the personal protective and equipment training, as a part of the Tribal Return to Work plans.  The Directors and managers are responsible for ensuring all their employees are trained in best management practices for COVID-19.
  • Currently, the HRSA Community Clinic has conducted 125 tests for essential departments, such as Fort Hall Police, Fire/EMS, Fish and Game, and Corrections.  As of Tuesday, May 12th, all COVID-19 testing came back negative. Please note that testing is only a current snap shot of employee health status. 
  • Fort Hall Indian Health Services Not-Tsoo Gah-nee Indian Health Center have received COVID-19 funds for Covid-19 response, testing, equipment and maintenance.  I.H.S has conducted 21 tests to date with 19 negative, 1 classified as recovered, and 1 positive non-Sho-Ban member residing off-reservation in Bannock County and being followed up by SIPH District 6.
  • The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Personnel Department has contacted Health Management Administrators (HMA) regarding the Antibody body testing and HMA confirmed that the antibody test is 100% covered for Tribal Government employees.  
  • What is an Antibody test? An Antibody test detects antibodies in the blood when the body is responding to a specific infection, like Covid-19. However, Antibody tests are not recommended for Covid-19 diagnosis. The test does not check for the COVID19 virus. Instead, it looks to see whether your immune system has responded to the infection.  There are several urgent care centers in Pocatello and Blackfoot that offer this antibody test. Information is posted on the Tribes Facebook page for the location hours, location and phone numbers. 
  • This Friday, May 15, 2020 at 10:00 am (MT time), Chairman Tino Batt and Robbie Moss, Public Information Officer will provide weekly updates on COVID-19 in Fort Hall. Streamed live on the Tribes Facebook page, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Q&A are taken from the comments towards the end.  

The Tribes highly advise the community to keep safe and take the following Preventative Precautions:

  1. All residents of the Fort Hall Reservation are required to stay at home and leave home only when absolutely necessary for health, safety, or welfare as described herein:
  2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  Stay at home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
  3. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing or have been in a public place (Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue).  If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  4. Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
  5. Clean and disinfect your home frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  6. Avoid Public Gathering (Recommendation from CDC is 10 people or less).
  7. Avoid all non-essential Travel.  

For any health concerns, please call the Idaho COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-330-3010

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