HOOPA VALLEY, Calif. (KIEM)-The Hoopa Valley Operation of Emergency Services reported two new COVID-19 cases bringing the total confirmed cases to 26 and one recovery reported Tuesday.
The age range of those who’ve tested positive is 15-months to 67-years-old.
23 cases remain active as of Wednesday afternoon and a total of three recoveries have been reported with zero deaths.
Officials with the Hoopa Office of Emergency Services say they have a plan in place to help curb the spread.
Wendy “Poppy” Ferris-George is Deputy Incident Commander for the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation OES.
“We’ve developed an incident command team and we’re developing our IAP team,” said Ferris-George. “It’s been in progress since last Thursday.
“We are completely running with a full and operational team at this point,” she said. “We do have our IAP developed in conjunction with K’ima:w Medical Center they are apart of our IC team and we meet daily to update our operations plan.”
Allie Hostler is also with Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation OES, she is the operation chief.
“I think the recent spike in numbers really put people back on track as far as looking out for one another. and putting the community at large in their best interest.
“We are focused on very specific goals each day, today’s [Tuesday] goal is “slow spread”, but some of the background goals that we are working, equally hard, are creating the infrastructure for support should we experience a larger spike,” she said.
Officials with Hoopa OES ask the community to follow the restrictions that have been ordered by the Hoopa Valley Tribal Counsel.
Deputy incident commander Wendy “Poppy” Ferris-George says their biggest fear is further spread of the virus in the community.
Those individuals who’ve been contacted are urged to come in and take a test.
Medical staff from K’ima:w Medical Center highly recommend those who’ve been notified of possible exposure need to come in immediately for testing.
Contact tracing is under way, with additional tribal members currently being trained by John Hopkins University to allow for additional support.
Normally statistics from a medical center would go to the county in which they then would add to their data, according to Hostler.
“I understand this has created some confusion with numbers but I also wanted to explain that’s an added security for our community to have those numbers more readily, more quickly, and to be localized,” she said. “Were doing that because we care about our community.”
A COVID-19 hotline has been established and is monitored. Staff will follow-up with those who’ve left messages. Questions and request for assistance can be done by calling the (530) 625-8100.
