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Response to virus

Tribal business council adopts measures to combat COVID-19

NEW TOWN – The COVID-19 Task Force of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation – Three Affiliated Tribes – is leading the efforts on the Fort Berthold Reservation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Chairman (Mark Fox) called for the group to be formed in February,” said Lisa Lone Fight, public information officer for the task force.

On Monday, Fox and the tribal business council adopted COVID-19 mitigation measures in response to the virus.

The measures included a dusk-to-dawn curfew, a limit on groups of five or more people congregating, to develop and enforce cooperative agreements with businesses on the reservation and a mandate to improve testing for the virus.

The tribal business council also established an incident command system and instituted a policy of minimum staffing at all tribal departments and enterprises.

The tribes’ 4 Bears Casino and Lodge, west of New Town, temporarily closed on March 20. The Eagles Landing C-store remains open.

The council also empowered tribal law enforcement to enforce the mitigation measures.

Fox said the measures adopted on Monday are part of their comprehensive response.

“These measures will help but, most importantly we are a strong people who care about one another. What affects one of us affects all of us. Together we’ll get through this,” Fox said in a news release issued earlier this week.

The MHA Nation Community Impact Dashboard on the MHA Nation website, listed on Friday seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus), 18 tests pending and 44 tests administered. There are no deaths.

The task force’s command system organizational structure includes Scott Satermo, Marle Baker, Kathy Eagle and Dr. Monica Mayer, all unified command; Lisa Lone Fight, public information officer; RJ Rabbithead, safety officer; Edmund Baker, operation chief; Red Fox Sanchez, planning chief; and Lenny Abrams, finance-administration chief. Satermo also is liaison officer and logistics chief.

Lone Fight said task force members meet every 48 hours and also are in continuous contact with each other.

She said there is also a great deal of outreach efforts within the communities of Fort Berthold Reservation to help people and keep people safe.

If anyone is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, shortness of breath), they are urged to stay home and call the Elbowoods Memorial Health Center Coronavirus Hotline at 627-7641. Those who live off Fort Berthold are asked to contact their local clinic for instructions.

For more coronavirus information visit the MHA Nation website at mhanation.com.

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