Zia Pueblo in New Mexico. Photo by Jared Tarbell
The Pueblo of Zia has emerged as a coronavirus hotspot in New Mexico, and the tribe is taking numerous steps to prevent the spread of the potentially deadly disease.
The tribe has been working with the New Mexico Department of Health to bring widespread coronavirus testing to the reservation. An April 10, 2020, post on social media shows people how to go to the state’s website to obtain their results.
The tribe is also coordinating with local officials. A checkpoint has been set up in neighboring Bernalillo County to help enforce a curfew on the reservation.
“We are truly grateful,” an April 12 post on social media read.
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Ahead of the Easter weekend, the tribe distributed food to every house in the pueblo. “Each food box contains enough food to sustain a family of 4 for 1 week,” a post on social media read.
The state of New Mexico sent shockwaves through Indian Country when it disclosed last week that 31 people at Zia tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents more than 3 percent of the tribe.
The situation is so dire that an acting tribal leader has been placed in charge. The governor and the lieutenant governor are among those who have tested positive, Indianz.Com reported last week.
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