FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        

July 28, 2020

Menominee Tribe Closes Menominee Tribal Government Offices for Two Weeks

Emergency Management Implements Curfew as COVID-19 Cases Rise

 (Menominee Indian Reservation, WI) – Menominee Indian Tribe announces the Tribe is taking proactive steps to address the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Citing the continued rise in tribal and local community COVID-19 cases, the Menominee Indian Tribe is temporarily closing its tribal government offices and facilities for a 2 week period, starting Tuesday, July 28 until Tuesday, August 11, 2020.

The Menominee Indian Reservation, areas surrounding the Menominee Nation, and Wisconsin are experiencing an alarming rise in positive COVID-19 cases.  According to data, the Menominee Indian Reservation COVID-19 positive cases have nearly doubled within a week’s time.  Menominee Indian Reservation, which shares boundaries with Menominee County, has 17 positive cases with 8 being active cases as of July 27, 2020.  Tribal Government employees in four different departments have tested positive and employees in three other departments have had direct contact with positive cases. These facts threaten the ability for the Menominee Tribe to fulfill its role to serve and protect the community’s safety.

The closing is to help lessen the spread of the disease in our community and departments.  Menominee Tribal Government department and services staff will work remotely during the next 2 weeks, and will be available through email or telephone.  This means that several tribal government buildings will be closed to employees and to the public.  There will be exceptions for critically essential employees, caregivers, contractors, vendors, food delivery services, and shipping and delivery.

The following critically essential departments and services will be available, with employees reporting to work, and providing services to our Tribal community: Menominee Tribal Police Department, Menominee Tribal Detention Center, Menominee Tribal Aging Division and CBRF, Menominee Tribal Clinic, Menominee Tribal Conservation, Menominee Tribal Food Distribution, Menominee Tribal Utilities, Menominee Tribal Transit, supporting on Demand Service, Menominee Tribal Gaming Commission, Menominee Tribal Maintenance & Housekeeping, and Eagle’s Nest Shelter.  Services for food delivery will continue.

The closure does not extend to critical essential departments and services, the Menominee Casino, or other Tribal chartered enterprises.  These entities would announce any changes to operations.

Emergency Management Coordinator along with Incident Command declared a curfew order for the Menominee Indian Reservation.  The curfew goes into effect Wednesday, July 29, 2020 and expires on August 31, 2020 with curfew hours between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.

Menominee Tribal Leaders consider the health and safety of our tribal members, our employees, and their families our priority.  We as a community must do our part to minimize the spread of COVID-19, as the threat of COVID-19 is growing in our community. Tribal leaders urge our community and our employees to stay home these two weeks and only leave for essential tasks.  We ask that you keep safety in mind.  Please plan and act ahead by getting your supplies and food you may need during the next 2 weeks.  Please practice social distancing along with everyday preventive actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing face mask or face coverings, frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, cleaning and disinfecting your home and vehicles and practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces such as cell phones, door handles, tables, faucets, sinks, steering wheels.  And please avoid any gatherings, such as birthday parties and graduation parties. Everyone’s behavior matters to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 data and will provide updates and any changes to the temporary closing as needed.