Newsroom

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Following the March 10 announcement of Michigan’s first positive COVID-19 cases, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is providing recommendations to help prevent the spread of the virus in the tribal community.

“The number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States is growing rapidly, but we do have a very good chance of altering the course of the pandemic among Sault Tribe members,” Sault Tribe Health Director Leo Chugunov said. “Our main goal is to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19, which can be accomplished by taking community mitigation strategies. New COVID-19 cases are declining every day in China and South Korea due to practicing these kinds of measures.”

The Sault Tribe Board of Directors urges all tribal members to take the recommendations seriously and to share them with their friends, families and coworkers, and to use their best judgment about what steps are most appropriate to keep themselves and their community safe and slow the spread of the disease.

These “community mitigation strategies” provide essential protections to individuals at risk of severe illness and to health care and other critical workforces. To slow the spread of COVID-19 in our tribal community, the following practices are recommended:

—Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

—Clean your cell phone (use a microfiber cloth with a cleaning solution containing isopropyl alcohol).

—Do not practice handshakes until the end of the pandemic.

—Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

—Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

—Avoid contact with people who are sick.

—If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath and need to be seen by a health provider, please call your provider to notify them about your upcoming visit. If available, wear a mask to protect others from infection. (Please note that use of a mask is not recommended for a healthy person.)

—If your condition does not require a visit to the Health Center, please stay at home but contact your provider about your illness.

_ Until further notice, avoid non-essential air travel, cruises and mass gatherings. This is especially critical for elders as the most vulnerable group.

—If your employer offers a work-from-home option, it is recommended as an effective measure to limit the spread of COVID-19.

—Remember to get your seasonal influenza vaccine.

—Limit non-essential visits to hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

In addition, the Traditional Medicine Program advises using the following traditional medicines as preventative measures for the coronavirus by boosting your immune system: Echinacea, boneset, rosehips, elderberry and cedar. Traditional healers can provide detailed guidance on the optimal use of these traditional medicines. To make an appointment with a traditional healer at your health clinic, call:

•     Sault Ste. Marie Health Center at 632-0236 or 632-5268
•     Manistique Health Center at 341-8469
•     Munising Tribal Health Center at 387-4721
•     St. Ignace Health Center at 643-8689
•     Newberry Health Center at 293-8181
•     Hessel Health Center at 484-2727

For updates on COVID-19, use reliable sources of information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: michigan.gov/coronavirus; or the World Health Organization: who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.