Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The Spirit Lake Tribe distributed an executive memorandum regarding positive cases of COVID-19. As of press time, there have been 11 cases of COVID-19 in Benson County, which encompasses the vast majority of the Spirit Lake Reservation.
According to the North Dakota Department of Health, of the 11 cases, seven are active. Nearly 1,200 residents of Benson County have been tested for COVID-19 to date.
The memorandum was prepared and signed by Tribal Chairperson Doug Yankton Sr., as well as the district representatives.
The memorandum reads as follows:
The memorandum is in regards to the continued safety of the Spirit Lake Tribal Community. Positive COVID-19 cases are on the rise within the Spirit Lake Tribe. The Spirit Lake Tribal Council continues in its efforts to contain and limit exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This is to protect our elderly, children, vulnerable high-risk health, immune-compromised and our people in general. Actions are being taken to slow the spread of this potentially deadly virus. We need your help. Every community member needs to take this seriously! It is up to us to protect each other from this virus.
Please take all precautions and adhere to the following:
• Only members of your home should be in your house, unless for a medical need, or you are a caregiver.
• Family and non-essential visits from those who live off of the reservation are strongly discouraged.
• Only essential travel off the reservation, including to scheduled medical appointments.
• Public gathers such as house parties, birthday parties and other gathers are strongly discouraged.
• Tribal employees traveling off the reservation need to report to Bernadette Brown.
• All other Tribal entities and programs, along with the general public, traveling for medical/essential travel, please report to Tammie Putnam, Cheri Schaffer or Hattie Idalski.
• People traveling onto the reservation are discouraged from entering the reservation if they are sick or coming from a COVID-19 hot spot.
• All out of state travel is discouraged unless it is for medical purposes only.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please call the phone nurse at (701) 766-1676.
If you have been identified by public health as a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 you need to remain in quarantine and stay home until released by a healthcare professional.
A mass testing event is planned for July 14 at Cankdeska Cikana Community College from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Here in Eddy County, the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd is awaiting the results of the mass testing event held there on Monday, July 6.
Eddy County hasn't had an active case for more than two weeks. The county has had a total of five cases since testing began in mid-March. However, with cases rising in other parts of the state, it is prudent to follow suggested protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Remember to wash your hands, keep a distance from others, stay home when you don't feel well and make an effort to wear a face-covering in crowded public places.
