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Coronavirus Update

3-16-2020
To Tribal Government employees,
Here is a new link for all CSKT Coronavirus information  https://csktribes.org/coronavirus-update
Tribal Council passed an order Monday to slow the onset of the Coronavirus epidemic. Beginning immediately CSKT implemented a government-wide partial shutdown. All department heads were directed to establish an essential services schedule through March 27. Department heads are firming up plans on what services will remain in place and what employees can work from home.
A number of tribal programs will be scaled back, however, essential services will remain, like elder care, payroll, accounting, IIM and care of vulnerable populations. The CSKT Elders program alone has 413 elders enrolled in their care. Each of them are being contacted to assure them staff are still on hand to care for them.
The courts are rescheduling cases. Emergency hearings will take place as needed. The public will not be allowed in public defenders offices. Jean Matt, director of Mission Valley Power, said their service is crucial and they will continue to work with a full staff to keep the lights on. The Personnel offices will remain open, but they canceled in-person interviews and rescheduled other interviews. The Information Technology staff will remain to ensure communication networks are running properly. The People’s Center will be closed for the next two weeks with plans to reopen on March 30th.
Tribal Council Chairwoman reminded people to limit public gatherings, telework when possible, and she emphasized everyone’s responsibility to clean their spaces and wash their hands often.
“If you are sick, stay home,” Fyant said. “If you are showing symptoms, call before you go see a medical provider.”
For those who have more detailed questions regarding the virus, there is a state hotline that is answering all questions. The Montana Governors Coronavirus Task Force has launched an informational phone line at 1-888-333-0461 and Montanans can also email questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. State public health officials will be responding to inquiries from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. You will be asked to leave a message and your question will be returned as soon as possible.
Again, thank you for your efforts in keeping our people safe. The longer we can keep this viral infection away and limit our exposure, the greater service we provide. This is not convenient for anyone. Disruptions to work and essential services will happen, but if we can slow the infection and minimize the impact now, these inconveniences will be worth the effort. Please share this notice by posting around offices or sending to other people. More announcements will be posted on CSKT.ORG, your work email, RAVE Alerts and The Char-Koosta News Facebook Page, and the weekly print version of the paper.

March 14, 2020

The Tribal Health Department is taking all precautions to protect our community and our staff due to coronavirus concerns. Beginning immediately, all appointments at Tribal Health Facilities for the next two weeks will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Certain appointments may be cancelled and rescheduled. There is a plan in place to address medication refill needs. We recommend using the pharmacy app or online link to access refills at www.cskthealth.org. You may also call the pharmacy refill line at 745-2426.

Public access to entrances at the clinics are now limited. For the St. Ignatius Clinic please use the main entrance by the pharmacy for patients. At Polson use the west entrance. Our smaller satellite clinics may have changed hours or have intermittent closures. Medical Travel Assistance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and you will have to reschedule appointments if necessary. If you have a cough, fever, and are short of breath, and think you need to be seen, please call your providers office before leaving your home.

THD employees will not be allowed to have visitors at this time. Please inform your families of these restrictions and respect our request at this time. Our goal is to limit exposure to our high-risk populations and our staff. Thank you for your cooperation.

THD Staff

Beginning immediately, all CSKT Tribal Health Fitness Centers and Community Centers are now closed to the public because of coronavirus.

CSKT Tribal Health continues to monitor the situation closely and will keep the public informed with new developments.

Tribal Health Department is taking all precautions to protect our community and our staff due to coronavirus concerns. Beginning immediately, all appointments at Tribal Health Facilities for the next two weeks will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Certain appointments may be cancelled and rescheduled. There is a plan in place to address medication refill needs. We recommend using the pharmacy app or online link to access refills atwww.cskthealth.org. You may also call the pharmacy refill line at 406-745-2426.

Public access to entrances at the clinics are now limited. For the St. Ignatius Clinic please use the main entrance by the pharmacy for patients. At Polson use the west entrance. Our smaller satellite clinics may have changed hours or have intermittent closures. Medical Travel Assistance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and you will have to reschedule appointments if necessary. If you have a cough, fever, and are short of breath, and think you need to be seen, please call your providers office before leaving your home.

THD employees will not be allowed to have visitors at this time. Please inform your families of these restrictions and respect our request at this time. Our goal is to limit exposure to our high-risk populations and our staff. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

3-15-2020

A Note to the Tribal Community,

Here is a new link for all CSKT Coronavirus information  https://csktribes.org/coronavirus-update

Tribal Council took several actions Sunday to further protect the tribal community from the coronavirus. These actions were taken during a special Council meeting held March 15 after receiving extensive consultation from various officials from Tribal Health, Lake County, CSKT Law and Order, ECS, SKHA and CSKT Emergency Services.

  • All Tribal employees are encouraged to consider working from home and telecommuting with supervisory approval for the next two weeks. Telecommuting will not work for all positions, but if it’s an option, please explore. This action extends two weeks from March 15. 
  • Council took action to support the Nk͏ʷusm board, which decided the school will be closed for two weeks.
  • Council directed the S&K Gaming Board to bring forward a plan Monday on closing the casino operations at Gray Wolf and KwaTaqNuk for two weeks. Such a closure involves a complicated system of cost and employee concerns, which must be worked out. Considerations will be made to ease the financial impact on employees.
  • Two Eagle River School is currently on spring break until March 23. Council recommends the board bring in a plan to keep the school shut down for an additional week. There are considerations to navigate regarding remote Internet access and meal services provided to students.
  • Council directed the Early Childhood Services Department Head to present a plan Monday for encouraging employees to work from home when possible and discuss potential facility closures.
  • Council directed the Maintenance Director to adjust work schedules for roving cleaners who ensure public spaces and offices in Pablo are constantly cleaned and wiped down to further limit potential exposure to the coronavirus.
  • The Department of Human Resource Development, called DHRD, was directed to come in Monday with a plan to work on providing services and protecting elders and vulnerable populations as defined by CDC guidelines (those with immune deficiencies and respiratory conditions).

Again, thank you for your efforts in keeping our people safe. The longer we can keep this viral infection away and limit our exposure, the greater service we provide. This is not convenient for anyone. Disruptions to work and essential services will happen, but if we can slow the infection and minimize the impact now, these inconveniences will be worth the effort. Please share this notice by posting around offices or sending to other people. More announcements will be posted on CSKT.ORG, your work email, RAVE Alerts and The Char-Koosta News Facebook Page, and the weekly print version of the paper.

To All Employees under CSKT including SKC, corporations, SKHA and all affiliated entities under the tribal government

Here is a new link for all CSKT Coronavirus information  https://csktribes.org/coronavirus-update

As of March 5, all non-essential work travel was cancelled. Thank you Department Heads for sorting through the tough questions and complications in carrying out that directive.

When Department Heads determine a trip is essential, permission must be obtained before filling out a purchase request for travel expenses. A written request must be sent to the Coronavirus Committee, which was established by Tribal Council Chairwoman Shelly Fyant. Council member Martin Charlo heads the committee. All requests should be sent to committee member Robert McDonald in the Communications Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Timeframe: This is a day-by-day, week-to-week situation on the travel freeze. The end to this situation is unknown at this time.

Hot Spots: Canadian Provinces Alberta and British Columbia are to be considered hot zones as of March 12. This applies to any travel done to Canada from this point on. In the United States, we are adding the state of Colorado to the previous list of states, California, Washington, Oregon, New York and Florida. Foreign hot spots: China, Iran, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy.

Montana Travel: We are under an essential travel mode. Essential trips through Montana do not trigger the 14-day stay home order.

Airport hubs are not considered hot spots. Travelers on essential travel who pass through hot state airport hubs are not considered traveling through a hot state.

As stated in the past, Employees who do travel to known hot spots, upon their return, they will be asked to remain out of the work place for 14 days. Department Heads may turn down PTO requests for people leaving for known hot spots. If a situation arises where an employee still travels to a hotspot, the employee should notify their supervisor in advance and discuss how the return and 14-day stay-out-of-work order will be handled. Department Heads may arrange for a person to work at home, use PTO, or if short of PTO operate on a Leave Without Pay status. Special consideration will be considered for those who are traveling for necessary medical care reasons. Employees who travel to known hot spots and return to work without telling their supervisor, if discovered, will be asked to leave the work place for 14 days and face potential disciplinary action. If there are questions, direct to the Coronavirus Committee. (Note, hotspots are always changing. If a location becomes a hot spot during a visit, upon return the employee should visit with their supervisor and plan for a 14-day stay-out-of-work order.)

Contractors who travel to CSKT offices from hot states will need to stay away so visits should be cancelled or, when possible, telecommunications should be used.

           For the safety and security of everyone, please adhere to our door access policy to limit unnecessary wandering people through our buildings. The Policy can be found on the CSKT Intranet in the docs under all documents (Security Policy)

CSKT’s Personnel Office is limiting their interviews. These changes are broken down in a separate memo.

Also, please apply social distancing measures. From the CDC COVID-19 Mitigation strategies, here are some guides.

Implement social distancing measures: Reduce activities (e.g., group congregation), especially for organizations with individuals at increased risk of severe illness.

           Consider offering video/audio of events.

  • • Determine ways to continue providing support services to individuals at increased risk of severe disease (services, meals, checking in) while limiting group settings and exposures.
  • • Cancel large gatherings or move to smaller groupings.
  • • For organizations that serve high-risk populations, cancel gatherings of more than 10 people.

Lastly, thank you all for your efforts in keeping our people safe. The longer we can keep this viral infection away, the greater service we provide. This is not convenient for anyone. Disruptions to work and essential services will happen, but if we can slow the infection and minimize the impact now, these inconveniences will be worth the effort.

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