Mohave Today

Hualapai Indian Tribe issued the following announcement on May 4

Three (3) remain hospitalized and the others remain under self-isolation, along with other community members identified as having contact with them. A Tribal member residing in the Kingman area has tested positive and is hospitalized. There are now 145 positive confirmed cases in Mohave County with 36 in the Lake Havasu City area, including the four deaths, 92 in Kingman, with a total of ten deaths and 16 in Bullhead City and one death. One “other” in a small community.

We encourage the community to remain calm, but to take this matter seriously. Be aware these positive cases may be the result of “community spread.” This means people have been infected in a given area, but some do not know how or where they became infected. It is important we do not relax but continue to follow all CDC guidelines for personal hygiene, social distancing and sanitizing our homes to prevent further spread of COVID19.

COVID19 spreads through mucus droplets through coughs and sneezes. Symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, dry cough and difficulty breathing

At this time, the CDC says the best way to prevent the spread of COVID 19 is to: 

 Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer; 

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; 

 Avoid people who are sick; 

 Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that may have come in contact with the COVID 19 virus;

 Wear face masks if you are or may be sick when around others.

To further help prevent the spread of COVID 19 in our community, Hualapai Tribal Council has enacted Resolution 27-2020, which includes a Stay at Home Order and a community-wide curfew. To clarify these for the community members:

The stay at home order is in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You must stay within the boundary of your property and limit direct communication with others. The only exceptions to the stay at home order, during the hours not covered by curfew are: 

 Medical care 

 Food 

 Financial obligations 

 Cattle association members and Tribal Contractors displaying authorization Placards from the Tribal Game and Fish Dept., 

 Essential employees 

 Tribal officials

The stay at home order extends to being in vehicles within the community for reasons other than allowed exceptions.

The curfew is in place from 8:00p.m. until 5:00a.m. During the curfew you must stay indoors. The only exceptions to curfew are:

 medical care, 

 essential employees.

Penalties are in place for those who violate the stay at home order and curfew:

1st offense: written warning 

2nd offense: $300.00 fine to be deducted from payroll or Tribal distributions. Non-Tribal members will be removed from the Reservation for one year 

3rd offense: 30 days’ imprisonment and an additional $300.00 fine to be deducted from payroll or Tribal distribution

At this time the Hualapai Tribe is not quarantined or isolated. The Tribe is on a Stay at Home Order, with some individual members now being quarantined. It is important to understand the difference between isolation and quarantine. Isolation separates people who are well, from those who are, or who might be sick, in order to keep them well. Quarantine separates those people who are, or who are suspected to be sick, (due to contact with sick people,) to a confined location, and restricts their movement to prevent them from getting other people sick..

Those who are under quarantine will be punished for violating the quarantine:

1st offense: $300.00 fine to be deducted from payroll or Tribal distribution. Non-tribal members will be removed from the Reservation for a year. 

2nd offense: 30 days’ imprisonment and an additional $300.00 fine to be deducted from payroll or Tribal distribution. 

3rd offense: 30 days’ imprisonment and the loss of one year of Tribal distribution

These penalties are being imposed to ensure COVID 19 is taken seriously and to protect the health of the Hualapai Community.

Also, to protect the community from the spread of the coronavirus, Council has directed the Hualapai Police Department to have three traffic control points throughout the community. This will begin Friday April 17, 2020 at 6:00p.m. and continue until further notice. Security is in place to assist with traffic control.

Remember, we must all work together to keep Peach Springs safe. If you see someone violating the Stay at Home Order or Curfew or suspect someone is violating quarantine, PLEASE say something. Call Dispatch at 769-2205. If you are concerned you may be sick or suspect someone else is suspect or have had contact with a community member positive with COVID19, please say something. Seek care from IHS or EMS if needed!

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Tribe’s COVID 19 Incident Command team at (928)769-2312.

Original source can be found here.