In response to the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic, the Tribe will be implementing community mitigation strategies to maintain critical infrastructure, prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into the local community and slow the spread of the virus. These strategies will include a public health campaign focusing on personal level actions, social distancing protocols, and protective measures. Tribal Health and Human Services staff will initiate a public health campaign to inform staff, citizens, community members and visitors about personal level actions to reduce the spread of the virus. These personal actions will include not be limited to handwashing techniques, the symptoms of COVID-19, staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette, limiting visitors and movement within the community, telephoning the doctor’s office in advance of a visit.
All Tribal offices will be closed to the public. All meetings, social gatherings, and classes will be postponed until further notice. The World Renewal Ceremony has been postponed to next year to protect elders, dancers and their families. The Tsek Houdaqh Youth program and daily elder’s congregate meal program will be closed. However, the elder’s meal delivery program and afterschool snack program will be continued using a modified approach including social distancing and increased sanitation procedures. As it has been recommended by Governor Newsom that all elders over 65 self-isolate, the Tribe is encouraging tribal elders to reach out to the title VI elders’ program for assistance using the toll free telephone number (800)388-7633 for assistance as needed.
The COVID-19 Global pandemic is an evolving health emergency. The Tribe will continue to monitor available health information provided by County, State, and Federal public health agencies. It is critical that the tribe work to maintain critical infrastructure necessary to maintain the operation of the government and work to protect the introduction of COVID-19 into the local community and slow the spread of the virus.
Declaration of a State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus
WHEREAS, the Wiyot Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in California and has a government-to-government relationship with the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the Wiyot Tribe Tribal Council is the governing body of the Tribe under the authority of the Tribe’s Constitution; and
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020 the World Health Organization designed the outbreak of A novel coronavirus, COVID-19, causes infectious disease and was first detected in Whuan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, and symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath and outcomes have ranged from mild to severe illness, and in some cases death; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M Azar II declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation’s health care community in responding to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 the President of the United States declared a national emergency in response to the evolving public health crisis due to COVID-19 virus; and
WHEREAS, the Wiyot Tribal Council recognizes an imminent threat of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Wiyot Community; and
WHEREAS, the health, safety and welfare of Table Bluff Reservation residents, Wiyot Citizen and tribal staff and visitors is of upmost importance to the Tribe and additional measures may needed to protect the community; and
WHEREAS, the Tribe may require additional assistance in the future and a formal declaration of emergency allows additional resources to flow to the Tribe in a timely fashion; and
WHEREAS, existing conditions related to the COVID-19 warrant the proclamation of emergency,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a local emergency now exists throughout Wiyot Tribal lands; and
IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that said local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the Wiyot Tribal Council.
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