COVId-19 News and information

NEWS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | December 15, 2020

Makah Tribal Council Approves Moving into Phase 2
Makah Tribal Council enacted Resolution 141-20 approving Health Order 09-20. We are moving into Phase 2 of the Makah COVID-19 Public Health Protocols effective Tuesday, December 15, 2020.

There are no new cases of COVID-19 on the Makah Reservation since November 23, 2020, and there is no known community transmission.

Protocols for Phase 2:

• Small Gatherings of 10 or less are allowed outdoors while avoiding close contact outside of the household group.
• All indoor gatherings are prohibited.

Household Groups
Household Groups "Pods" are now reinstated. Household Units not located on the Reservation may not be considered a part of a Household Group for this order's duration.

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NEWS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | DECEMBER 12, 2020

The Makah community may be seeing a COVID-19 vaccine as early as January 2021
The Sophie Trettevick Indian Health Center (STIHC) has chosen to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. On December 11, the FDA approved an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine should follow with a EUA within days. STIHC anticipates the vaccine becoming available to the Makah community as early as January 2021.

For those who wish to get vaccinated, STIHC will offer a walk-through vaccine clinic at the Community Gym, identical to previous flu vaccine clinics, for the general public. The vaccine requires two doses, given approximately four weeks apart. The vaccine’s known side-effects are soreness and pain at the injection site, fatigue, and aching muscles and joints.

The vaccine was 95% effective in trials for preventing symptoms and progression to severe illness. It is unknown how disease transmission is affected by the vaccine. After vaccination, we will still need to wear masks and do social distancing for several months until epidemiologists, and other experts can provide more information.
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Distributors will ship the Moderna vaccine in doses of 100. Initial doses will go to front-line health-care workers, essential workers, tribal elders, and those with specific health issues. Eventually, all community members will be able to be vaccinated. Children under 18 will not receive the vaccine until the current age-specific studies are completed.

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​JOIN US FOR PUBLIC MAKAH EOC MEETINGS

We invite the community to join the weekly EOC meetings. Meetings are held every Tuesday at 11:30 AM. Community members will be required to register before entering the meeting. To register, contact Erica Crittenden at 360-645-3207.

Standing Agenda:
1. Updates from the Health Officer
2. Updates from the Incident Commander
3. Updates from the Operations Director Public Questions/Comments (2 minute limit per person)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99652017974
Meeting ID: 996 5201 7974
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99652017974# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,99652017974# US (Houston)

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IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY AT HOME EXCEPT TO GET MEDICAL CARE
Stay home and stay away from others in your household, in a separate room, and using a different bathroom if possible. If you have to be around others, stay 6 feet away and wear a face mask or use a tissue to cover your cough/sneezes.

Stay away from high-risk persons in your life (greater than 60 years old, have an underlying heart or lung or other medical conditions, or are pregnant). 

VERY IMPORTANT: If you are at high risk (greater than 60 years old, have underlying heart or lung conditions, diabetes or other immune compromising conditions, or are pregnant), please start monitoring your symptoms very closely. Call immediately if your fever is more significant than 100.4 or you are having shortness of breath. 

If you cough or sneeze, do it into a tissue and immediately dispose of the tissue (or wash if you have a handkerchief). Do not let other people handle your used tissues or handkerchiefs! If you don't have something to cough or sneeze into, use your elbow, but wash your clothes afterward. ​

If you have mild symptoms (such as a cough, runny nose, or fever less than 102), you can most likely manage your symptoms at home. There are several supportive therapies you can do at home without seeing a doctor, such as:

• Rest
• Stay hydrated, drinking at least ten tall glasses of water a day.
• Use salt-water gargles and salt-water rinses to clear your nose and throat.
• Eat anti-microbial foods like onions, garlic, ginger, and foods with antioxidants like broccoli and blueberries.
• Stay away from processed foods and sugar.
• Use over-the-counter medications and supplements such as Zinc, Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil), Robitussin (cough syrup), and medicated nasal sprays.

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​If your symptoms worsen during business hours, call the clinic at 360-645-2233, and the medical staff will assist you. For the safety of other patients and our team, do not come directly to the clinic. Call first. 

If your symptoms worsen during After Hours, please call the Careline at 1-800-607-5501. If you suspect you have COVID-19 (fever and a cough), call the Clallam County Hotline at 1-360-417-2430 or the Washington State Department of Health Hotline 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

If you are having an emergency (i.e., severe shortness of breath) at any time, call 911.