For Immediate Release: September 24, 2021
(Oneida Reservation) – The Oneida Business Committee has extended the Oneida declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency on the Oneida Reservation until November 25, 2021.
Since March 12, 2020 the Oneida Reservation has been in a state of public health emergency. For 18 months we have been fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic. The count of positive cases on the Oneida Reservation began to rise significantly in July and August.
As of Thursday, September 23, 2021, Oneida has 34 active cases of COVID-19 on the reservation. Chairman Hill expressed concerns about the upcoming flu season and what impact that may have on complications with the COVID-19 and the cold season as well. Chairman Hill states, “We have to continue our diligence, as tired as we all are of the restrictions placed on our world by this pandemic, we have to remain strong to remain healthy. In March, as summer approached, we seen our cases drop significantly. Our community began to relax their protocols as we slowly resumed business. But following Labor Day we began to see an increase in cases. We have our children and our grandparents to be concerned about, exposing them to the COVID could be devastating. Until we see our numbers decrease, significantly, we must continue to keep our public health emergency order extended. This could be extended well past the end of this year if we can’t gain better control world-wide. We strongly urge vaccination.”
School is now in session and we are focused on how to protect our teachers and students from the spread of the COVID-19. Oneida has opened schools to in person instruction.
The Oneida Nation is continuing to watch local data and statistics and will act in accordance with the Oneida Medical professionals as they determine how long to extend the Public Health Emergency on the Oneida Nation Reservation.
