For Immediate Release: May 20, 2020
(Oneida Reservation) – The goal of the Oneida Nation continues to be the protection of the public health and reduction of the explosive growth of the COVID-19 pandemic in the greater Oneida Nation area. Throughout the duration of this pandemic, the Nation has implemented appropriate safer at work practices.
The early actions of the Nation helped to slow the spread significantly by postponing large meetings and stopping non-essential operations. Other actions continue to include proper social distancing and deep disinfecting of workspaces to protect our employees and customers. Chairman Hill noted, “In January, we made the decision to cancel two large governmental meetings where we usually have more than 1,500 members in attendance. We had to act prudently and quickly to slow the spread as soon as we were able to, which also included closure of non-essential businesses. The Nation recognizes WI Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC) technical expertise in providing safe reopening guidelines for businesses and we are confident in business owners’ commitment to put measures in place that are equal to or greater than those set forth by WEDC.”
The Oneida Nation is a sovereign government which has an active Safer at Home declaration in effect. The Nation remains committed to issuing proper amendments as conditions change to meet the fast-changing needs of our community, customers, and employees. The newly adopted Open for Business amendment to the Safer at Home declaration allows non-essential businesses to open consistent with reopen guidelines outlined by the WEDC.
Non-essential business operations may resume within the Oneida Nation Reservation after complying with the WEDC reopen guidelines and submitting an attestation to the Oneida Nation’s Public Health Officer for approval. By following the guidelines, businesses will implement necessary cleaning, sanitizing, hand washing stations and social distancing requirements customized to their specific industry. Businesses which have received Oneida Nation’s Public Health Officer approval may reopen no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020.
For information, please contact the COVID19 Call Center at (920) 869-4481 or the Oneida Nation’s Public Health Officer at mmyers@oneidanation.org.
WEDC guidelines are located at wedc.org/reopen-guidelines/.
