The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin is taking preventative measures in regards to the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.
An Incident Command Center has been created to include Ben Warrington-Incident Commander, Dr. Amy Slagle-Public Health Officer, Vaughn Bowles-Public Information Officer, and Menominee Nation News will be used to write and disseminate information. Information will be released as available and necessary as it relates to the Menominee reservation and county.
On Thursday, March 12, 2020 the Menominee Indian Tribe declared a State of Emergency, and approved the following immediate precautionary measures (this response will change as necessary):
Menominee Reservation and County Residents:
-TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: All non-medical related transportation services to hot spot counties will be cancelled for the next 45 days. Prohibition will continue for rolling 45-day period until lifted.
-STAY HOME IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD IS SICK: Employees who are sick or who have sick children should stay home from work. Supervisors shall relax enforcement of attendance policies. In cases where two parents work for the Tribe, those parents should work out a schedule so that only one of them is off at a time.
- Self-quarantine for 14 calendar days if children are coming home for spring break if they have had contact with an individual who has been a confirmed case or from an area with confirmed cases.
-TRIBALLY SPONSORED PUBLIC EVENTS HOSTED BY TRIBAL DEPARTMENTS CANCELLED: All tribally sponsored public events are cancelled for the next 45 days. Prohibition will continue for rolling 45-day period until lifted.
- Cancellation includes resource fairs, pow-wows, Sturgeon Feast, Celebrations and other public events, all school events such as sporting events, dances proms, graduations.
-FITNESS/RECREATION CENTER: The fitness center, activity rooms, and workout areas of the Tribal Recreation Center will be closed for the next 45 days. Closure will continue for rolling 45-day period until lifted. All 24-hour door access cards will be disabled.
-ELDER MEAL SITES FOOD FOR TAKE OUT ONLY: Food service at elderly meal sites will convert to take-out only.
- Home delivered meals will continue uninterrupted.
- Elders who are aware of the closure should remain in their vehicles and staff will deliver take-out meals to them.
- Elders who are unaware of closure may pick up take-out meal at meal site door.
- Staff shall inform elder of closure and advise that future meals will be delivered to their vehicles.
- For more information call Menominee Aging Division at (715) 799-5240
-MENOMINEE TRIBAL JAIL, CBRF, MAEHNOWESEKIYAH RESIDENTIAL, EAGLES NEST, AND DV SHELTER CLOSED TO VISITORS: All facilities operated by the Tribe that house individuals will be closed to visitors. The only exemptions to this closure is medical personnel providing care to residents
-GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS LIMITED TO 20 OR LESS: All meetings of government elected officials, committees, and staff should be limited to 20 people or less.
- Non-essential meetings will be postponed, business will be conducted via poll votes.
-IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES: Administrative Committee shall coordinate the identification of essential services in the event workforce is reduced due to illness or quarantines are required.
-MEALS FOR CHILDREN: Tribally operated schools, Head Starts and Day Care Centers shall develop plans for how take-out meals/bag lunches can be provided to school children in the event of school closures.
-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
- Emergency Management and Tribal Clinic will begin preparing medical self-care packages that include a thermometer, aspirin, Tylenol and other items.
- Emergency Management and Agriculture and Food Systems will begin acquiring nonperishable food reserves for elders and disabled individuals who are quarantined.
- Emergency Management will begin planning for delivery methods of food reserves for and methods to identify quarantined individuals.
Tribal Employees:
-TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: All off reservation travel cancelled and prohibited for the next 45 days. Prohibition will continue for rolling 45-day period until lifted. Exemptions will be made on a case by case basis.
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PROHIBITION ON REPORTING TO WORK FOR EMPLOYEES WHO RESIDE IN A COUNTY WITH A CONFIRMED CASE: Employees who reside in a county with a confirmed case shall be prohibited from reporting to work for a period of 14 days. Employees shall be provided work at home opportunity if possible.
-SELF-QUARANTINE FOR THOSE ON TRAVEL: Tribal employees currently on tribal or personal travel to out of state hot spots or out of the country for any reason must remain away from their workplace for 14 calendar days after their return.
-STAY HOME IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD IS SICK: Employees who are sick or who have sick children should stay home from work. Supervisors shall relax enforcement of attendance policies. In cases where two parents work for the Tribe, those parents should work out a schedule so that only one of them is off at a time.
- Self-quarantine for 14 calendar days if children are coming home for spring break if they have had contact with an individual who has been a confirmed case or from an area with confirmed cases.
-ADDITIONAL HOUSEKEEPING STAFF: The Tribal Facilities staff will bring on emergency hires in housekeeping to continuously clean and disinfect the facilities they support and tribal facilities without their own housekeeping staff.
-DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS: All departmental meetings where individuals from outside of the reservation boundaries should be conducted via conference call or Skype/video conferencing.
-IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES: Administrative Committee shall coordinate the identification of essential services in the event workforce is reduced due to illness or quarantines are required.
-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
- Aging personal care workers should wear protective clothing if their clients are showing signs of illness
- Aging personal care workers should find a substitute if they are sick
- All departments should track expenses, including special purchases, emergency hires, staff leave time related to these directives.
- IT Department will review and increase system capabilities to ensure a larger number of employees can work from home if needed.
Again, this response will change as necessary.
