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TRIBAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION

The Penobscot Tribal Administration has been made aware of several cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the state of Maine.

At this time, we have determined that this outbreak presents a clear hazard to the health and well-being of our people.

We, the Penobscot Nation Chief and Tribal Council, the duly elected representatives of our sovereign nation, do hereby declare a Public Health Emergency in our community.

With this proclamation, we activate all previously established emergency management and infectious disease containment plans. All of the resources at our disposal will be made available to minimize the impact of this threat and to restore the operations of our government to normal function as quickly as possible.

We direct our employees, representatives, and volunteers to exercise the utmost diligence in execution of their duties. We call upon all Tribal Citizens to comply with any necessary emergency measures and to cooperate with Public Health Officials in order to safeguard the health of our people.

Our thoughts and well wishes are with all the sick and we hope for their quick recovery. During this difficult time, we must pull together and strive for the safety and well-being of all.

Kirk E. Francis, Chief (and on behalf of the Tribal Council)

Penobscot Indian Nation

03.16.2020

NOTICE FROM USET Leadership:

“In response to COVID-19, both USET and USET SPF are working diligently to do all we can in support of members, our org partners, and Indian country overall. Additionally, we are taking the necessary USET/USET SPF internal org specific steps and actions. As you have likely seen already, the majority of our information and communication is being centralized via this site:

https://www.usetinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-Disease-LB.pdf

PENOBSCOT NATION
PROCEDURES DURING SHUT-DOWN

- Updated 03/31/2020

PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY UPDATE

Patients who request delivery must be home to receive and sign for their prescriptions.

Because of pharmacy law requirements and public safety concerns, Health Department drivers will not leave a prescription on a doorstep, mailbox, unlocked car, or anywhere else.

Click on depatment to see more info

Penobscot Nation Health Center

Tribal Clerks

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Education & Career Services Department

Housing Department

Social Services

COURT

Department of Trust Responsibilities

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America
15 Days to Slow the Spread

1. Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities.

2. If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.

3. If your children are sick, keep them at home. Do not send them to school. Contact your medical provider.

4. If someone in your household has tested positive for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Do not go to school. Contact your medical provider.

5. If you are an older person, stay home and away from other people.

6. If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition that can put you at increased risk (for example, a condition that impairs your lung or heart function or weakens your immune system), stay home and away from other people.

7. Even if you are young, or otherwise healthy, you are at risk and your activities can increase the risk for others. It is critical that you do your part to stop the spread of the coronavirus:
 Work or engage in schooling from home whenever possible.
 If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule. You and your employers should follow CDC guidance to protect your health at work.
 Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
 Avoid eating or drinking in bars, restaurants, and food courts – use drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options.
 Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips, and social visits.
 Do not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
 Practice good hygiene:
o Wash your hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface.
o Avoid touching your face.
o Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.
o Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.

* School operations can accelerate the spread of the coronavirus. Governors of states with evidence of community transmission should close schools in affected and surrounding areas. Governors should close schools in communities that are near areas of community transmission, even if those areas are in neighboring states. In addition, state and local officials should close schools where coronavirus has been identified in the population associated with the school. States and localities that close schools need to address childcare needs of critical responders, as well as the nutritional needs of children.

** Older people are particularly at risk from the coronavirus. All states should follow Federal guidance and halt social visits to nursing homes and retirement and long-term care facilities.

*** In states with evidence of community transmission, bars, restaurants, food courts, gyms, and other indoor and outdoor venues where groups of people congregate should be closed.

SMS Alert

CHIEF'S MESSAGE updated 3/30/20

kirk

Dear Tribal Citizen,

I first want to extend my well wishes and hope that you and your families remain in positive spirits. I am writing to update you on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, just 17 days from the first confirmed case in Maine, there are now 275 cases of COVID-19 in the state and sadly, three people have died.

The number of cases in Penobscot County has doubled over the weekend, officials suspect community spread and expect the number of cases to continue to rise. It is not my intent to scare you, but to alert you to the level of seriousness of our situation. It is critically important that everyone continue to shelter in place - stay in your homes, do not visit, stay 6 ft. away from others and only leave to meet essential needs or fulfill essential responsibilities. It is more important than ever that you follow Tribal Council’s directive prohibiting visitation by non-community members. Public Safety has been instructed to strictly enforce this emergency rule. Thank you for cooperating and putting the health and safety of our community as a whole ahead of your own comfort during this time. Many of our members are especially vulnerable and at a high-risk for complications due to COVID-19, including our elders, immune compromised, cancer patients, and those with respiratory illnesses. With your cooperation, with each one of us taking the responsibility to shelter in place, we can succeed in protecting our community. Every time we leave our homes we are exposing ourselves and others; do so only when necessary and in the safest way possible.

Tribal government continues to work diligently to provide food to those that need it. Last week, our staff delivered over 460 meals to our elders and 87 boxes from the food pantry, nearly twice our normal amount. We are fortunate to have the resources and personnel to provide this service. Thank you for understanding that while we cannot offer a wide variety of food items, we are doing the best we can. I know you will agree that our staff is doing a great job accessing and distributing resources, as is Indian Island School who is delivering meals to our children. I appreciate their work and partnership with us.

Tribal administration is advocating on the national level to secure much needed resources and relief. Our lobbyists are working hard to ensure that recently passed Congressional relief bills will benefit Indian Country. Tribal administration and staff continue to work with many federal agencies and tribal organizations, including FEMA, Indian Health Services, United South and Eastern Tribes, the BIA and the CDC to gather information and secure resources.

While this time is stressful and uncertain, we must continue to band together for the benefit of our community and tribe. While there are many things out of our control, following tribal pandemic rules are well within our control – shelter in place, wash hands frequently, stay 6 ft. away from others, do not have any non-community visitors.

It is important we remain mindful and appreciative of all tribal administration and staff are doing to meet your basic needs: delivering meals, providing health care and prescriptions, repairing homes, and providing for our safety. We are grateful to those that leave their homes and families so we can stay in ours. When you see them please say thank you.

Please help to get this information out to everyone by sharing it with friends and family. We have stopped door to door deliveries to further prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

It remains my absolute honor to be the Chief of this great Nation, and I am uplifted by the character and fortitude our people are demonstrating during these difficult times. My thoughts, those of our Administration and the Tribal Council are always with you. Stay home and be safe!

In Brotherhood,

Kirk E. Francis, Chief

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