Fort Belknap enters next phase of re-opening

The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is in the process of entering Phase 2 of its re-opening plan.

Fort Belknap Indian Community Council President Andrew Werk Jr. could not be reached for comment by printing deadline, but a document released on the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council Facebook page says Phase 2 will allow for increased opening of businesses, details on travel restrictions and that mask-wearing is generally still in place, with limited exceptions for fully vaccinated people.

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation has not made any recent changes to its reopening, taking a cautious approach to how it handles the ongoing situation.

“We haven’t seen any cases since February but we’re not putting our guard down,” said State-Tribal Economic Development Commissioner and Chippewa Cree Tribe Chief of Staff Richard Sangrey.

Sangrey said, while the curfew has been lifted, social distancing is still required on the reservation, as is mask wearing in businesses, and the Chippewa Cree Tribe is not ready to allow those businesses to return to full capacity.

He said tribal offices are also still closed to the public.

He said there will likely be more changes down the road as long as the virus continues to remain under control, but for now they are playing it safe.

“We want the majority of our people vaccinated before we actually open for business,” Sangrey said.

He said the reservation is working on updating its vaccination numbers and that will inform decisions going forward.

Phase 2 on Fort Belknap will allow offices and businesses to open at 50 percent capacity, with the exception of those that have already been approved to fully re-open, which will be allowed to continue activities as normal, the council’s Facebook post says.

Non-essential tribal programs will function at 50 percent of their total staffing with some exceptions based on the viability of social distancing within an office. Essential services include public health, law enforcement and social services.

Offices will continue to limit public access to allow for social distancing, and use of plastic barriers is encouraged.

Employees and customers alike are still required to wear masks, and the document says this rule must be strictly enforced by all tribal establishments.

“No service if no mask,” it says.

It also says businesses will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity and social distancing is still a requirement, as is mask wearing and deep cleaning. Businesses should expect to be inspected by Disaster and Emergency Services staff to make sure rules are being followed.

Gyms will only be allowed to operate at 25 percent capacity and will need to submit plans for their operation to DES.

Mask wearing in general is still highly recommended regardless of vaccination status when traveling, attending crowded events and businesses, but the vaccinated don’t need to wear masks when indoors among other vaccinated people and during most activities outdoors.

The document also says travel restrictions are the responsibility of the council and will not reflect those of other local, state or federal governments.

Travel from other states will be allowed as long as the state is not considered a hot spot, but international travel is still highly discouraged.

The standards for what is considered a hot spot are detailed in the document which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=972768003482268&set=pcb.972769016815500 .

Phase 2 also includes travel recommendations for the unvaccinated, which includes getting tested before departure, wearing a mask on all forms of public transit, avoiding crowds and maintaining hand hygiene.

It also recommends a two-week self-quarantine and another test after returning.

The document said visitation to Fort Belknap is still discouraged.

Community activity organizers will be required to submit plans for any major event to DES for them to approve as well.

The document says already existing curfews for minors will stay in place, but all others will be lifted in this new phase.

It says the fully vaccinated need to take precaution being around others if they are found to be a contact of a case and if they are symptomatic, but if they are not symptomatic they only need to exercise caution if they are in a group setting. But orders from public health must still be followed.

The unvaccinated and partially vaccinated — people who have received one shot of the two-shot series that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require — will need to quarantine if they are a contact, and isolate if they are symptomatic.

It says orders from public health need to be followed and all members are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

“Research has shown that the vaccine is both safe and effective against the development of severe COVID infection,” it says. “Please vaccinate.”

The document says the implementation of Phase 3 will depend on the the continuing stability of the virus’ spread over one month and/or the community reaching a threshold of 75 percent of the eligible population fully vaccinated.