FORT HALL — COVID-19 cases are fluctuating on the Fort Hall Reservation according to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Emergency Operations Center and they are aware of the variants in the regions so they are urging community members to wear face masks and continue social distancing.
If you’ve received a vaccine, you are still required to wear a face mask in public said EOC Public Information Officer Randy’L Teton in an EOC press release.
She said Fort Hall COVID-19 numbers for this week as of April 12 at 4 p.m. are: Total active cases: 14; total cases to date: 910; total currently hospitalized: 0; total deceased to date: 878; total vaccines given to date: 4,796.
Weekly screenings are available until further notice. Following are results from the screenings: April 7: Buffalo Lodge had 7 tests with 0 positives; April 8 Chiefs Events Center provided 38 tests with one positive. The screenings are back to the regular Schedule of Monday through Wednesday so people are advised to check the schedule.
Vaccine update
To date, the Tribes have given a total of 4,796 vaccines to the Fort Hall community. Based on last week’s number, they provided 143 more vaccines in one week.
People are advised to save their vaccine card because one could be asked to provide it at future events. One will need to show his or her vaccine card when receiving the one time $50 incentive card.
Tribal Health and Human Services and the Fort Hall Indian Health Service Unit have partnered to offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to students ages 16-18 years old. To make it convenient for families, they will be offering it during school hours at two local high schools: Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High and Blackfoot High School.
The vaccination team will be at the Shoshone-Bannock High School on April 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. and at Blackfoot High School on April 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. to give the first doses. Official flyers have been posted on the Tribes Facebook page for more information.
According to Eric King, Incident Commander, “Vaccinating young people protects them, and our elders, and other at-risk people in our community.”
Appointments for vaccines can be made by calling the I.H.S at (208) 238-5427 or Tribal Health at (208) 238-5435 for patients who have an established IHS chart. If you live on the reservation or are a household member of an enrolled Tribal member please call (208) 478-3987 for information about receiving vaccinations from the Shoshone-Bannock Community Health Center. If you need a free ride to either clinic, please call the Fort Hall Transit Service at (208) 478-4069.
The Tribes will host a Facebook Live on Thursday, April 15 at noon. Please join for a COVID-19 update from the Tribal Emergency team and Tribal leadership.
To keep updated on Fort Hall COVID19 resources, check out the Tribes COVID19 website for ongoing updates including the COVID data dashboard, facemask mandate, Tribal PSA's, Facebook live recordings, etc. http://sbtribes.com/covid-19/