COVID-19 reports decrease in Fort Hall, but missing 2 days of testing
Fort Hall COVID-19 chart: updated as of September 9, 2020 at 12:36 p.m.
FORT HALL — The Tribal Office of Emergency Management (TOEM) officially report a decrease of COVID-19 cases on the Fort Hall Reservation, bringing the total cases that have been impacted by COVID-19 to 205 cases (this number includes positives and recovered) since the pandemic started in early April. Of the 205 cases, 16 are currently positive and being monitored, 183 have recovered, 4 are currently hospitalized, and one new death, bringing total deaths to two (2). Even though there is a decrease in positive cases, please note that there was no testing provided in the past two days due to Labor Day Holiday and power outage yesterday that affected the entire community.
Test results are compiled and reported by the Fort Hall Indian Health Clinic and Community Health Center (HRSA) every Tuesday of the week. The Fort Hall COVID19 Chart data will vary daily based on number of testing results at each center. The attached chart shows the last four weeks of data to show the trends in positive and recovered cases on the reservation.
According to Lori Snidow, “All COVID19 testing’s at I.H.S Not-soo-gahnee will be held in the mornings only to allow the nursing staff to process and contact patients the same-day. Also, a new lab tech was hired to assist with COVID19 testing to provide efficiency in our process.”
The Emergency Management team urges the community to take precautions with the upcoming funerals taking place in the next few days. Please contact Safety Officer, Jim Cutler at 208-241-2184 to complete a Safety Plan to receive PPE supplies for the funeral.
According to Chris Waterhouse, “HRSA COVID19 testing has decreased at the facility possibly due to I.H.S providing same day testing. Although, HRSA provides Saturday testing.” If there is a need for testing, please call HRSA at 208-478-3987.
If you are contacted by a ‘Contact Tracer’, the individual will be instructed to isolate and schedule a testing immediately. COVID symptoms include a fever (temperature 100.4 or higher), cough, shortness of breath, headache, muscle and body aches, sore throat, fatigue/extreme tiredness, GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and loss of taste and smell. Each of our Tribal health centers, including I.H.S, Tribal Health and HRSA have tribal contact tracers actively monitoring positive individuals.
For any health concerns, please call Fort Hall Indian Health Service (I.H.S) at (208) 238-5494 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or Community Health Center (HRSA) 208-478-3987. For tribal resources check out the Tribes COVID19 website at www.sbtribes.com and click on COVID19.
