March 20, 2020
Hau Mitakuyapi, Hello my Relatives. We continue to provide you updates on the Community’s preparedness in response to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), what we are doing, and how you can help.
We know there are more questions than answers right now.
Be assured the Community’s COVID-19 response team continues to meet on a daily basis to determine the best interests of the Community’s health, safety and welfare.
We are looking at every option to sustain the Community.
We wanted to provide you a few important updates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The world events regarding this issue change daily, sometimes hourly.
Effective immediately, Government Administration buildings are closed with the exception to a few key staff.
We are going to skeleton crew coverage by March 30.
If you have not heard from me, still report to work on Monday, March 23
All Lower Sioux Housing Authority issued loans (including rent), DFI and Higher Education loans, are deferred for April and May 2020. They will be added to the end of all loans or rental agreements.
April 2020 Per capita is suspended.
We will be providing monetary COVID-19 relief assistance with GAP/TAP to qualified Members. This assistance is available by check only (no direct deposit).
The check will be issued in the Community member’s name and will be mailed to the Community member’s address on file.
If you want your check sent to the correct address, make sure your mailing address is up to date.
Change of address forms are due no later than March 25 by 4:00 p.m.
Since checks will be issued in the Community member’s name, Community members are responsible for contacting their individual creditors who normally receive direct reimbursement from GAP/TAP/Per Cap.
Government Administration building’s front entrance foyer is open to Community members. A drop box for comments, concerns, change of address forms is available at this location. The drop box will be checked on a regular basis.
Please note we have confirmed that Bremer will cash checks without an account but they require a valid ID.
We encourage Community members to sign up for Medical Assistance and Energy Assistance.
You can contact Medical Assistance at 800-657-3739
You can contact Energy Assistance at 320-522-0216
You can contact the Government Administration for emergency needs at 320-522-0216.
The Community Council encourages you to visit our website at https://lowersiouxhhs.org/category/news/ for continued updates
We are looking at every option to sustain the Community.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ELDERS, THOSE WHO ARE SICK AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS
At this time, we ask that you stay at home.
The Community will be providing some services to our elders, those who are sick or those who have underlying medical conditions. Please contact the following individuals for more information:
- Monday -Friday: Josh Larsen: 507-430-9189, [email protected]; or
- Monday – Friday: Sara Bidinger: 507- 430- 5668, [email protected].
- Contact Lower Sioux Social Services’ on-call number at 320-522-0126 during the weekend if you need assistance.
Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020: For elders 60 years and older, you can have your medications delivered to your home between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. You will need to call the LSIC Pharmacy Department by noon for same day delivery. The elder who will be receiving the medication must be present at the home in order to sign off. If the Pharmacy does not answer when you call for medication delivery, you will need to leave a voicemail. It is confidential.
We are keeping up to date on any available resources from the federal and state governments for assistance with caring for our elderly, those who are sick, and those with underlying medical conditions. For all other Community members, I ask that you take extra precaution and limit your outings only for essential reasons. Try to keep to yourself when out and about, be mindful of other people around you, and keep at least 6 feet of space between you and other people when out in public.
LSIC Dental Clinic
All elective, non-emergent dental services are cancelled until further notice.
Gatherings
At this time, we recommend no more than 50 people congregate within the Community.
CWOO & area school districts (all are closed March 16-27, 2020) make sure to fill out letter
CWOO:
- Cancel all school activities such as Wounspe, Kawitaya, and Pregnancy Expo.
- Will begin Distance Learning for children and families on March 18th that include:
- Diapers, Wet Wipes, and Formula
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack
- Dakota Iapi and Education Learning
- Look for communications directly from CWOO for more info.
RASD
- Redwood Area School District will provide school lunches to any area students during the State Declared School Shutdown from Wed. March 18 through Friday, March 27 (Not on Saturday or Sunday). Refer to the separate announcement.
- As of March 17th, 2020 at 5:30pm, RASD will be closing the day care services they provide to all Cardinal Kids Club and School Age Child Care families, with the exception of day care services to essential workers (refer to the district’s notice dated March 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.)
Cedar Mountain
- Cedar Mountain will be providing meals for anyone under the age of 18 starting on Wednesday, March 18th. The meal service will be “Grab and Go” and all meals will be provided free of charge. Students are not allowed to eat meals in the building. Meals, which will include a breakfast and a lunch, can be picked up Monday-Friday between 11:00am and 12:00pm at either building. Refer to the separate announcement from Cedar Mountain.
For meal delivery, please follow any instructions from your child(ren)’s school district.
Mental Health
For mental health and coping assistance, call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.
COVID-19 is now confirmed in Renville County. The State of Minnesota has been reporting which counties have positive cases. That information can be found here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/situation.html. The State also has a COVID-19 hotline: 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Precautions
As a valuable member of our Community, we encourage you to do the following:
- Stay home when you feel sick.
- Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your mouth with tissues whenever you cough or sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash, or cough into your elbow if you don’t have tissues.
- Avoid people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
- Do not touch your face.
- It is important for everyone to follow these guidelines.
COVID-19 symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
If you are experiencing these symptoms, do NOT go to your doctor’s office or the government center. Please contact the Lower Sioux Health Care Center at 507-697-8600 for direction. If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911.
Community events
All Community scheduled events currently are postponed until further notice.
Government Administration and Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel
We are taking the following measures:
- Direct communication with Governor Walz’s office
- Working closely with the Community’s Tribal Emergency Response Committee (TERC)
- Collaborating with other tribal and federal/local/state governments
- Distributing regular updates regarding COVID-19
- The TERC COVID-19 response team, comprised of several departments, meets daily
Community’s Rec Center closure
Effective Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 22, the Community’s Recreation Center and will be closed. We will continue to evaluate the need for any closure beyond this date. Please plan accordingly.
Travel
We ask that Community members suspend all travel outside Minnesota and the United States.
I encourage you to sign up for the Community text messages so you have the most up-to-date information about this issue. You can sign up by texting LowerSioux to 77948. We will also provide updates on the Lower Sioux Health Care Center’s website at https://lowersiouxhhs.org/category/news/.
We all must do our part to stop the spread of any sickness, whether it is the COVID-19/corona virus or any other type. Everyone is at risk, and we are all responsible for helping stop the spread. We are doing our best to prevent it in our Community. Thank you for doing your part to help maintain a healthy and safe Community. We will see this through together. We will continue to update you.
Pidamayado,
Robert Larsen
President
