Yurok Office of Emergency Services Update: April 27, 2020

Yurok Office of Emergency Services Update: April 27, 2020 Yurok Tribe Covid-19 Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-225-8952.

Confirmed Cases on the Yurok Reservation • Zero

Confirmed Cases in Humboldt County • 53 total confirmed cases

Confirmed Cases in Del Norte County • 3 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

Confirmed Cases in Trinity County • Zero

Case numbers provided by Humboldt, Del Norte & Trinity County Joint Information Center’s

Confirmed Cases at K’ima:w Medical Center in Hoopa • 1 confirmed case

Case numbers provided Hoopa Office of Emergency Services

Confirmed Cases at United Indian Health Service • 1 confirmed case

Case numbers provided by http://unitedindianhealthservices.org/coronavirus/

California COVID-19, As of April 27, 2020

The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 43,464 confirmed cases and 1,755 deaths

New Data Portal • The state has launched a new, user-friendly data portal at update.covid19.ca.gov that tracks COVID-19 cases statewide and by county, gender, age and ethnicity. The portal also outlines statewide hospitalizations and testing efforts. The data presented on the portal will be updated daily and will include additional information as it is available.

Testing in California • As of April 26, more than 553,409 tests have been conducted in California and reported to the California Department of Public Health. These numbers include data from commercial, private and academic labs, including Quest, LabCorp, Kaiser, University of California and Stanford, and the 22 state and county health labs currently testing. • The Department is now reporting all tests reported in California, rather than the total number of individuals tested. As new laboratories begin to test for COVID-19, some have had delays in reporting to the state. To resolve this issue, and to ensure this data is as complete as possible and reflects the state's entire testing capacity, the Department is contacting laboratories directly to assess the completeness of reporting and to gather additional testing data if needed.

In addition, laboratories have been working through their backlogs of tests awaiting processing, and the backlog has been reduced. This helps ensure we can meet the additional demand expected from broadening testing guidelines and opening 86 additional sample collection sites across California.

Racial Demographics – A More Complete Picture • The California Department of Public Health is committed to health equity and collecting more detailed racial and ethnic data that will provide additional understanding for determining future action. Health outcomes are affected by forces including structural racism, poverty and the disproportionate prevalence of underlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease among Latinos and African American Californians. Only by looking at the full picture can we understand how to ensure the best outcomes for all Californians.

The differences in health outcomes related to COVID-19 are most stark in COVID-19 deaths. We have nearly complete data on race and ethnicity for COVID-19 deaths, and we are seeing the following trends. Overall, for adults 18 and older, Latinos, African Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are dying at disproportionately higher levels. The proportion of COVID-19 deaths in African Americans is about double their population representation across all adult age categories. For Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, overall numbers are low, but there is a four-fold difference between the proportion of COVID-19 deaths and their population representation. More men are dying from COVID-19 than females, in line with national trends. More information is available at COVID-19 Race and Ethnicity Data.

Health Care Worker Infection Rates • As of April 26, local health departments have reported 4,709 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 24 deaths statewide.

County numbers can also be found here: https://data.chhs.ca.gov/dataset/california-covid-19-hospital-data-and-case-statistics.

United States Current Cases: Confirmed United States COVID-19 Cases - Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of 1400 Hours on April 27, 2020: • 957,875 (+29,256) Total confirmed cases • 53,922 (+1,463) Total deaths

Confirmed Global COVID-19 Cases - Per Worldometers COVID-19 Live Updates as of 1400 Hours on April 27, 2020: • 3,055,651 (+68,553) Total confirmed cases in 210 countries • 211,065 (+4,384) Total Deaths.

Actions Taken by the State and Federal Government • April 22, Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to resume delayed health care that was deferred as hospitals prepared for COVID-19 Surge. The decision was based on progress toward preparing California’s hospitals and health care delivery system for a COVID-19 surge in patients, one of California’s six indicators to gradually modify state’s stay-at-home order. The Governor also announced plans to add at least an additional 80 testing sites in underserved communities train up to 10,000 contact tracers. • April 21, Governor Gavin Newsom announced California Volunteers’ #CaliforniansForAll service initiative to connect Californians with safe volunteer opportunities and encourage those unable to physically volunteer to think creatively about ways to make a difference in their communities. Californians are encouraged to join #CaliforniansForAll by signing up at californiansforall.ca.gov.

Participants will receive an email from California Volunteers with information on what they can do in real time to help, and those who opt into volunteer will be contacted by local nonprofit partners when opportunities open up in their area.

FEMA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are collecting and sharing best practices and lessons learned from the whole-of-America response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The FEMA Coronavirus Emergency Management Best Practices page provides a one-stop shop to explore best practices and lessons learned across all levels of government, private sector, academic institutions, professional associations, and other organizations.

What to do if you think you are sick: Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to an area with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

• Humboldt County Department of Public Health: (707) 268-2182 or (707) 445-6200 • Del Norte County Department of Public Health: (707) 464-0861 or (707) 464-3191 • Potawot Health Village: (707) 825-5000 • Crescent City Clinic: (707) 464-2750 • Smith River Clinic: (707) 487-0215 • Klamath Clinic: (707) 482-2181 • Eureka Clinic: (707) 442-0380 • Weitchpec Clinic: (530) 625-4300

COVID-19 Response Team Updates: • The Yurok Tribe has approved the hiring of a Tribal member contractor to clear the flat at Tulley Creek (West side of YHSS building/Tulley Creek Firehouse) The contractor has started the project. Emergency Protective Measures due to COVID -19 and Emergency Response Services units (Connex boxes) for Food Distribution for upriver residents will be located at the site. • The Yurok Tribal Council declared a state of emergency due to the COVID19 pandemic through Resolution 20-28 on March 13, 2020.

The Yurok Tribe issued a Stay at Home Order on March 19, 2020 that coincides with California Governor Newsom’s order also issued on March 19, 2020.

• Chairman Joseph L. James issued an emergency reservation closure order on April 4, 2020, this Resolution Number 20-43 was approved at a duly called meeting of the Yurok Tribal Council on April 6, 2020, at which a quorum was present and that this Resolution Number 20-43 was adopted by a vote of 8 for and 0 opposed and 0 abstentions in accordance with Article IV, Section 5(j) of the Constitution of the Yurok Tribe. This Resolution Number 20-43 has not been rescinded or amended in any way. • Curfew hours during the closure 10 p.m.-4 a.m. • Yurok Tribal Council and Yurok Office of Emergency Services has requested FEMA assistance. • For more information call the Yurok Tribe Covid-19 Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-225-8952.

YHHS Update/Public Health Task Force • Yurok Tribe Public Health Task Force Plays Critical Role in COVID-19 Response

The Yurok Covid-19 Incident Command has designated a Yurok Public Health Task Force to assist in initiating prevention, protective and response measures related to the Covid-19 virus.

The task force consists of the following: Dr. Tracy Thompson, United Indian Health Services, Stephanie Weldon, Yurok Social Services, Kate Fischer, Yurok Planning Department, Peggy O’Neill, Yurok Indian Housing Authority, Rod Mendes, Yurok Deputy Incident Commander and Elly Hoopes, Yurok Executive Director. The task force meets daily through Go-to-Meeting conference calls to discuss health issues related to the spread of the Covid-19 within Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

Dr. Thompson collaborates with both the Humboldt County Public Health Officer and the Del Norte County Public Health Officer to ensure the task force is well informed and that the reservation community has ample care and services as it relates to Covid-19.

The Yurok Public Task Force juggles a variety of topics such as Covid-19 testing, contact tracing, behavioral health, elder care, community access to food, collaborating with outside agencies, identifying essential funding opportunities and services and promoting the safety of tribal employee and community.

• At the request of the Yurok Tribe, Dr. Thompson from United Indian Health Services (UIHS) has been assigned to the Public Health Task Force. This will ensure that both Yurok and UIHS response and action are uniform moving forward. • Due to the State of Emergency- COVID-19 YHHS programs and services will be provided on a limited basis. The goal is to provide essential program services to the community while maintaining safety. All offices are closed to the public. • Staff are available to take applications by phone Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 10:00-3:00. Applications and services for:

• LIHEAP

• General Assistance, • Burial Assistance • Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Food Distribution • This week nearly 500 emergency food boxes were delivered to elders within the Yurok Tribes service area. • Last week the Yurok Tribe distributed more than 70 family food boxes in front of Redwood Hotel Casino. Tribal and RHC staff organized a drive-through service to safely dispense the food to local community members. Tomorrow more food boxes will be delivered. • Today at Pek-Tah Fuel Mart in Weitchpec, the Yurok Tribe distributed 65 boxes. Tomorrow more food boxes will be delivered. • The food distributions in Klamath and Weitchpec are part of the Yurok Tribe’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Yurok Health and Human Services Food Distribution Program is offering a 30-day supply of groceries to income eligible Humboldt and Del Norte County residents. To be eligible, you must be an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe and have been laid off or have had work hours reduced due to the public health emergency. Non-Tribal citizens living on the Yurok Reservation are also eligible, so long as they meet the above-listed employment-related criteria. Services for existing Food Distribution Program participants will not be altered and will continue throughout the crisis. The Yurok Food Distribution application can be found here: https://www.yuroktribe.org/…/documen…/fdp_%20application.pdf Applications can also be acquired over the phone by calling (707) 464-1852 or picked up in-person at 190 Nelson Lane in Crescent City. • Next week, YHHS’s Food Distribution Program will begin delivering disaster food boxes to Tribal citizens in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. All Tribal citizens are eligible for this service. Elders and other vulnerable residents will be served first and the boxes will go out on a weekly basis. Please note that signing up for the 30-day supply of food from the Food Distribution Program is recommended for families and those with dependents. To sign up for a disaster food box, please call 1-888-225-8952. • Open for regular pick up by appointment ONLY • Tailgate deliveries will still occur as scheduled • Taking new applications/clients. Call to make an appointment *Must call to make an appointment due to social distancing. *

TANF • Monthly Assistance- Current Families will continue to receive cash assistance – Checks will be mailed out by the 1st of each month. Monthly Eligibility Reports (MERs) will be attached to checks. Work participation hours will be waived. • Supportive Services- Requests will continue to be accepted via phone. • New Applications & Recertifications- will be scheduled an intake appointment over the phone. Expedited approval/presumptive eligibility for qualified families. • Employment Training, Wellness, Language/Cultural Activities- all in person activities are temporarily suspended. Program staff are developing at home activities that can be done through web based, live sessions, and packets.

Indian Child Welfare Services • Social workers will participate in essential services such as family team meetings, court, and one on one case management by phone. • Social Workers will be calling clients with open cases and investigations to check in. Social Workers will also be calling to check in the county Child Welfare Services.

Youth Wellness Program • Case management activities with active youth will be provided by phone for check in. • All in person activities are postponed • The Youth Employment Services (YES) application process is temporarily postponed. • Staff are working to develop at home activities including online, web based check ins, and planning for future activities. • All Tribal offices are closed to the public. Staff are available to take applications by phone Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 10:00-3:00. Please call the Yurok Tribe Covid-19 Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-225-8952.

Elders Information: • Elders outside of Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity County are receiving $50 to assist with purchasing food and essential items. • The Yurok Tribe has started delivering boxes of food and other essential items to Tribal elders, that live within the service district of Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity County as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. • YHHS is working with other departments to check in on Yurok elders and coordinate critical responses to resources. • An Elder Task Force has been established to continue checking up on our most vulnerable populations during this time. You may contact us through the toll free hotline 1-888-225-8952. or you may email us at YurokElders@yuroktribe.nsn.us • YHHS started Elder outreach coordination on March 17, Elders lists from enrollment were split up between 3 areas; North, South, and East. Volunteers were given elder lists and started contacting Elders as of March 18. The first phase is phone contact (home contact for Pecwan area with no phone access) which is still happening now, gathering needs on an assessment form. The second phase is home visits and deliveries of information and if possible, care packages. Each site lead is compiling the assessments from the volunteers. • For more information call 1-888-225-8952.

• What we can offer to the elders: • PPE & thermometers (If in stock & can be ordered) • Utilities (heating)- Wood, propane, electricity, emergency communication (Can’t guarantee) working with LIHEAP, Forestry, and Elder Advocate Program • Essential Needs (Basic Food & Basic Toiletries) all the same supplies will be ordered. • Personal Needs-We can help facilitate-working with UIHS (medi-cal) for long term. Also, not guaranteed, but we can try to help.

• Medical- Prescriptions, transportation to essential appointments- we can help facilitate-working with CHRs, UIHS, Yurok Transit.

To ensure that you receive updates from the Tribe, please update your contact information with Enrollment calling the hotline or email: krystel@yuroktribe.nsn.us

Yurok Tribe Transit Services Yurok Tribe Transit Service has changed how services are offered. Dispatch (707)482-073

• Yurok Tribe Transit Service will continue to assist the community by providing medical transportation with the limit of one passenger at a time. • We will be collaborating with the Yurok Social Services Department to assist outreach to the community as needed. • Updates will be posted on the Yurok Tribe’s and YTTS Facebook pages or call dispatch (707)482-0731 for information on the current status of transit services.

Yurok Indian Housing Authority (YIHA) • The Yurok Indian Housing Authority Board of Commissioners (BOC) have taken into consideration the great financial burden and stress that this pandemic has placed upon our community. In response, the Board of Commissioners held their second emergency call-in meeting on April 16th at 9:00am and unanimously taken action to: • Waive all Rent and Home Loan Payments due for the month of May 2020. All outstanding balances will remain on your account. • All tenants and homeowners that have balances owed for the period ending March 31, 2020 will receive a blue coupon for past due amounts. • The majority of Yurok Indian Housing Authority employees continue to work from home. Our Yurok Indian Housing Authority office continues to be closed to the public until it is safe to return to work. • The Board of Commissioners waived all rent and homeowner payments for the month of April. • As of March 13, the lobby has been closed to the public and all inquiries need to be made as a call-in or email. • Program emails should be directed to Rachel Dowd at rdowd@yurokhousing.com. • If there is an elder emergency or tenant emergency, tribal members can call Kinney Childs III at (707)954-6858. • Regular business: applications are available on the YIHA website at www.yurokhousing.com and will be processed when staff return to the office. • Starting April 10, and continuing next week, YIHA is delivering an elder’s shelter-in-place box that includes Kleenex, Tylenol, Cleaning Supplies, Blanket, Crossword book, cough drops, and tea. This will go out to the 51 Elders currently served by the Yurok Indian Housing Authority. • 10 new homes being constructed in Tulley Creek are continuing construction as an essential service to build new homes for the community. • There are also two additional individual homes for tribal elders that will be constructed this construction year.

• New Tribal Council Liaison, Council Member Ryan Ray, Requa District will be joining the Yurok Indian Housing Authority meetings. The April meeting was cancelled but YIHA will be working to have a May meeting on the second Tuesday of the May as a call-in “GO-TO” meeting.

Operations Update • Nearly 500 boxes elder boxes filled with food and essential items were packaged and delivered to all of the elders living in Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte County. • 40 total elder firewood deliveries. (since March 23) • For more information call 1-888-225-8952

Yurok Education Department • Established an Education Task Force • Yurok Education is providing resources for students to do at a distance including learning videos for Facebook, YouTube and other virtual platforms. • Take home learning packets for Head Start students. • Education is also offering tutoring support in Google virtual rooms, Yurok language lessons, and other avenues. • The Education Department has compiled a list of remote learning resource that can be found here: https://www.yurokoes.org/resources

Planning Section Update: • Facilitated Daily 0800 Briefing Meeting. • Customized & Distributed ICS-214 to all ICS positions. Revised/Updated/Develop Yurok ICS Org Charts (ICS, Public Health, Elder Check-in Vols). • Request Org Chart info from: Public Health/Medical & Food Distribution. Receive & Compile materials for Incident Action Plan (IAP). Developing COVID-19 Database to house Yurok COVID docs/activity. • Requested completed ICS-214 forms from ICS team to be filled out daily and turned in weekly.

Information & Intelligence • Yurok Connect is waiving all fees for internet services to current customers for the month of April and May. In addition, there will be no shut offs for nonpayment during the current public health crisis. Email Yurokconnect@yuroktribe.nsn.us for any questions or problems with your Yurok Connect service. • Continues to work on getting telephone and/or broadband services to the Wautec area. Info/Intel is currently working with contractors, and the FCC to obtain access to a frequency only made available during emergencies that could help get a signal into Wautec. Equipment will be needed as well as a tower constructed, but this should be coming together in the next weeks and months.

Yurok Tribal Court

are currently physically closed to the public. You may contact the Clerk’s Office e-mail at CourtClerk@yuroktribe.nsn.us or call (707) 482-1350 ext. 1406.

Yurok Tribal Court-Behavioral & Mental Health Services • Yurok Tribe Youth At-Risk Program Bessie @ (707) 951-9372 bshorty@yuroktribe.nsn.us • Yurok Wellness Counselor (Adults) Tayonna Buck (South District) tbuck@yuroktribe.nsn.us (707) 951-2978. • Yurok Wellness Counselor (Youth/Adults) Melinda (North/East District) Mescarcega@yuroktribe.nsn.us • Yurok Wellness Counselor (Youth/Adults) Marie (North District) Mdecora@yuroktribe.nsn.us (707) 458-5911

Community Updates

Humboldt County • Humboldt County’s EOC team has the first state-sponsored remote COVID-19 testing facility was opened today in Eureka to begin testing medical personnel and first responders (appointments are being scheduled by employers). The EOC is seeking to expand services at this new site so that within several weeks, members of the public may be tested. • Per The County Health Officer’s 4/21/20 Order: Effective (4/24/20), All persons shall wear facial coverings before they enter any indoor facility besides their residence, any enclosed open space, or while outdoors when the person is unable to maintain a six-foot distance from another person at all times.

Trinity County: • The Yurok Tribe has employees currently working in Trinity County • Health Officer of the County of Trinity amends and replaces the order dealing with Real Estate Services and related Settlement Services made on March 30, 2020 with an updated order dated April 21, 2020, as described below to become effective immediately. • A determination has been made by the Trinity County Health Officer that REAL ESTATE SERVICES, and related SETTLEMENT SERVICES are now included in the essential services and critical infrastructure status in Trinity County, to view the full content visit: https://www.trinitycounty.org/sites/default/files/Public_Health/Documents/Covid/Amend_and_Replace_HOO_4-21-2020.pdf • As of today, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Trinity County. Trinity County Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Branch (PHB), and the Office of Emergency Services (OES) continue to work together in coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic. • The Governor’s Order and Trinity County Health Officer Order can be viewed in full at www.trinitycounty.org • The link below will provide you with a PSA released today from Trinity County Public Health.

• https://www.trinitycounty.org/sites/default/files/Public_Health/Documents/Covid/PSA_4.15.20_.pdf • You can track local statistics and information at www.trinitycounty.org • Contact Trinity County Public Health Branch at (530) 623 – 8235 with questions or concerns.

• Del Norte Public Health Officer: • 4/27/2020: Public Health Officer Dr. Warren Rehwaldt address a new confirmed case in Del Norte County who is recovering at home. Contact tracing is used to find, and inform anyone who has been in close contact that they may also need to isolate. A guidance document has been put together and is being reviewed for relaxing some of the restrictions. He again asks that people continue to enjoy the outdoors, while social distancing yourselves. Read the Full Letter • Del Norte County Public Health Officer Dr. Warren Rehwaldt gives an update to the community regarding COVID-19. With almost 250 tests done we still only have 2 confirmed cases. He informs the community that the Federal Government is working on plans to re-open the country with “gating criteria.” We have created a new “normal” of how businesses can function, and he gives key principles on how this can be done moving forward. He encourages all community members to read the White House documents that were released last week to update themselves on the current conditions of COVID-19 for our Country. Read the full letter. • Letter to residents of Del Norte County: https://docs.google.com/a/co.del-norte.ca.us/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Y28uZGVsLW5vcnRlLmNhLnVzfGRuY298Z3g6MTMyMWUyZmIxN2UwNmI5Mg • Del Norte County has set up a COVID-19 information line to answer our community's questions about the coronavirus that is causing COVID-19. COVID-19 Information Line: 707-464-091.

Change in Fuel Mart(s) Hours of Operation As of April 26, 2020 • Pem-Mey Fuel Mart in Klamath is open 8 a.m. – 8p.m. Full service fuel, groceries and convenient store items: Available by placing a phone order, or ordering items at the store window. To place a phone order at Pem-Mey, please call: (707)482-3510. • Pek-Tah Fuel Mart in Weitchpec is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Full service fuel, groceries and convenient store items: Available by placing a phone order, or ordering items at the store window. To place an order at Pek-Tah, please call: (530) 625-4173. • Fuel is available after hours by paying with a credit card at the pump.

The leadership, and many dedicated staff are tireless in their efforts to mitigate a very difficult situation. The Yurok Tribe is working to stay ahead of the curve. The Yurok Office of Emergence Services is providing regular updates to the upriver and downriver communities via the Tribe’s social media pages, local sandwich board notification stations and at yurokoes.org.

For more information regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic please visit:

http://unitedindianhealthservices.org/ www.yurokoes.org https://humboldtgov.org/2018/Humboldt-Health-Alert http://www.co.del-norte.ca.us/departments/health-human-services/public-health https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html http://www.oesnews.com/