Suquamish Tribe COVID-19 Response Update

/in , , /by

Tribal Council and Suquamish government leaders are closely tracking the spike in Omicron infections that is sweeping the entire country and is sickening people here on the Port Madison Indian Reservation.

We are taking action, and we are asking that you do also. Please take these steps to protect yourself and those who are unable to get vaccinated, especially our youngest children:

  • If you aren’t well, please get tested and isolate yourself from others.
  • If you are a close contact with someone who has COVID, please wait five days and then get tested.
  • Testing is available free to all Tribal members and their households, as well as government staff and PME employees, at the Tribal Center, every weekday from 8:30am to noon.
  • The ELC tested staff and students and will reopen Jan. 5 with limited hours, 9am – 4pm. CKA tested all staff and students and has reopened.
  • All Tribal services are by appointment only or via curbside pick-up this week. Non-essential Tribal government staff are asked to work from home.
  • Vaccinations and boosters are our best protection. Please make sure you and all family members are fully vaccinated and boosted if eligible. Make a vaccination appointment at: https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov
  • Children age 12 and up are eligible for vaccinations and can get boosters if their second dose was at least 6 months ago.
  • Children age 5 and up should get vaccinated. Please check with your health care provider if you have concerns about getting your child vaccinated.
  • Avoid gathering indoors with anyone outside your household. Keep your “bubble” small.
  • Wear N-95 masks, or two layers of other masks, when outside your bubble.
  • Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
  • Tribe Emergency Management has ordered additional home test kits. We will notify you via SUN alert when they are available.

These steps worked to help reduce the impact on the Tribal community so far. Now we need to put these steps to work again while Omicron burns through the community.

Acting together we can protect vulnerable members of our family and community. 

 

More background information

The Omicron variant is much more catching, and the numbers infected are doubling every few days. We’ll have information on the number of positive cases tested by Tribal Community Health later this week.

Some people are less concerned about Omicron because it is said to be less deadly. Still, hospitals around the state are filling up with very sick people. In most cases, but not all cases, those getting very ill or dying are people who are not vaccinated.

The Tribe has an adequate supply of PCR tests, but is asking those who are not ill or a close contact, to hold off on testing during this time.

tix̌ix̌dubut čəxʷ (take care of yourself)