By Louis Taylor
LCO Chairman
On Wednesday, May 20th, 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 of a Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Member was reported. This individual has been contacted by community health officials and interviewed for contact tracing. The process for contact tracing and interviewing takes a look at who, where, and how that individual may have had contact with other people in the community. The individual is in quarantine at this time. Follow up calling to those individuals will be made to ensure they are also tested for COVID-19 to rule out further spread.
Personal information about the identity and location of this individual cannot be released to protect their privacy. Health information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Employees of the Tribal Government, Health Center, and Sawyer County Public Health cannot divulge this information according to federal law. Please respect their privacy at this time.
Through community testing, planning and preparedness, facility sanitizing, and coordination the Tribe will continue to provide services to ensure the welfare and safety of its people. Additional safety measures will be implemented within our Tribal businesses and entities. However, the Tribal Government cannot do so alone. It is your actions that can slow the spread of this virus and provide the greatest measure of protection. Continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene. Avoid non-essential travel and business, don’t partake in large gatherings, wash and sanitize your hands especially while out in the community for essential business, wear a mask, avoid touching your face and stay at home when possible. If we all do our part, we can limit the effect this terrible virus may have on our community.