The Southern Ute Indian Tribe intensified its response to the spread of COVID-19 this week as new cases were reported in surrounding areas.
The Southern Ute Tribal Council, the tribe’s incident management team and tribal entities reexamined critical functions, issued telecommuting orders and instituted more closures, with changes starting Monday. The tribe had already declared a state of emergency, canceled or postponed large events and emphasized social distancing.
No positive case of COVID-19 has been reported on the reservation.
Monday, the tribe asked all residents of the reservation to stay at home unless it is to engage in an essential activity such as caring for elders or dependents, obtaining medical, work and home supplies, engaging in outdoor recreation and essential activities such as banking and employment.
The response updates included remote work, self-quarantine and more closures.
All tribal buildings went on lockdown with no public access until further notice.
The Sky Ute Casino Resort ceased all operations at 3 p.m. Monday. The hotel, all dining operations, gaming operations and bowling alley closed. All events were postponed.
Almost all staff have begun working remotely. Tribal staff from New Mexico were required to telecommute. Southern Ute Growth Fund, Permanent Fund and Shared Services staff should also begin working remotely, the news release said.
The only exceptions were designated essential personnel in each department. Growth Fund staff who must still report to work must also pass a health screening before entering the Growth Fund building.
The measures will help “flatten the curve,” or decrease the number of patients trying to access medical care at one time. The changes aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and additional stress on the health care system, the news release said.
<PARAGRAPH style="Body text">The council also described additional self-quarantine measures.
“We each have a responsibility to attempt to limit the exposure of COVID-19, especially to the tribal elders and the high-risk population of the Southern Ute tribal membership and our community,” Chairman Christine Sage said in a news release Sunday.
Staff members who are instructed to report to their work stations are required to take their temperature as part of a self-screening process.
A staff member who voluntarily travels outside a safety area will go on a 14-day self-quarantine watch period.
For the community, tribal members who travel outside of a 50-mile radius “are strongly encouraged” to self-quarantine for 14 days, the release said.
The tribe did not immediately respond to requests for comment about what the designated safety area is or where the 50-mile radius extends from.
smullane@durangoherald.com