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  • Writer's pictureYurok OES
    • Apr 14, 2020

Yurok Office of Emergency Services Update: April 13, 2020

Yurok Tribe Covid-19 Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-225-8952.


Confirmed Cases on the Yurok Reservation

  • Zero

Current Cases in Humboldt County

  • 50 total confirmed cases (Today marks the sixth day of zero additional confirmed cases)

Current Cases in Del Norte County

  • 2 total confirmed cases

Case numbers provided by Humboldt & Del Norte County Joint Information Center’s

Current Cases at K’ima:w Medical Center in Hoopa

  • 1 confirmed case

Case numbers provided Hoopa Office of Emergency Services

Current Cases at United Indian Health Service

  • 1 confirmed case

Case numbers provided by http://unitedindianhealthservices.org/

California, Oregon and Washington announce “Western States Pact”

Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced an agreement on a shared vision for reopening our economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future. The three states have agreed to work together on a shared approach with clear indicators for communities to restart public life and business. While each state is building a state-specific plan, the governors have agreed to the following principles as they build out a West Coast framework:

  • Our residents’ health comes first.

  • Health outcomes and science – not politics – will guide these decisions.

  • Our states will only be effective by working together.

For more information, see Governor Brown’s press release.

California Department of Public Health

As of April 12, 2020, there are a total of 22,348 positive cases and 687 deaths in California.

Ages of all confirmed positive cases:

  • Age 0-17: 337 cases

  • Age 18-49: 10,838 cases

  • Age 50-64: 6,079 cases

  • Age 65 and older: 5,036 cases

  • Unknown/Missing: 58 cases

Gender of all confirmed positive cases:

  • Female: 10,877 cases

  • Male: 11,256 cases

  • Unknown: 215 cases

For the number of cases, hospitalizations, and county breakdown, please visit https://data.chhs.ca.gov/dataset/california-covid-19-hospital-data-and-case-statistics

What to do if you think you are sick: Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to an area with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.


  • Humboldt County Department of Public Health: (707) 268-2182 or (707) 445-6200

  • Del Norte County Department of Public Health: (707) 464-0861 or (707) 464-3191

  • Potawot Health Village: (707) 825-5000

  • Crescent City Clinic: (707) 464-2750

  • Smith River Clinic: (707) 487-0215

  • Klamath Clinic: (707) 482-2181

  • Eureka Clinic: (707) 442-0380

  • Weitchpec Clinic: (530) 625-4300

COVID-19 Response Team Updates:

  • The Yurok Tribal Council declared a state of emergency due to the COVID19 pandemic through Resolution 20-28 on March 13, 2020.

  • The Yurok Tribe issued a Stay at Home Order on March 19, 2020 that coincides with California Governor Newsom’s order also issued on March 19, 2020.

  • Chairman Joseph L. James issued an emergency reservation closure order on April 4, 2020, this Resolution Number 20-43 was approved at a duly called meeting of the Yurok Tribal Council on April 6, 2020, at which a quorum was present and that this Resolution Number 20-43 was adopted by a vote of 8 for and 0 opposed and 0 abstentions in accordance with Article IV, Section 5(j) of the Constitution of the Yurok Tribe. This Resolution Number 20-43 has not been rescinded or amended in any way.

  • Curfew hours during the closure 10 p.m.-4 a.m.

  • Yurok Tribal Council and Yurok Office of Emergency Services has requested FEMA assistance.

  • For more information call the Yurok Tribe Covid-19 Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-225-8952.

YHHS Update/Public Health

  • The Yurok Tribe requested support from UIHS in the form of a Public Health Officer. Dr. Thompson from United Indian Health Services (UIHS) has been assigned to the Public Health Task Force. This will ensure that both Yurok and UIHS response and action are uniform moving forward.

  • All Tribal offices are closed to the public. Staff are available to take applications by phone Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 10:00-3:00. Please call the Yurok Tribe Covid-19 Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-225-8952.

Elders Information:

  • An Elder Task Force has been established to continue checking up on our most vulnerable populations during this time. You may contact us through the toll free hotline 1-888-225-8952. or you may email us at YurokElders@yuroktribe.nsn.us

  • YHHS started Elder outreach coordination on March 17, Elders lists from enrollment were split up between 3 areas; North, South, and East. Volunteers were given elder lists and started contacting Elders as of March 18. The first phase is phone contact (home contact for Pecwan area with no phone access) which is still happening now, gathering needs on an assessment form. The second phase is home visits and deliveries of information and if possible, care packages. Each site lead is compiling the assessments from the volunteers.

  • For more information call 1-888-225-8952.

  • What we can offer to the elders:

  • PPE & thermometers (If in stock & can be ordered)

  • Utilities (heating)- Wood, propane, electricity, emergency communication (Can’t guarantee) working with LIHEAP, Forestry, and Elder Advocate Program

  • Essential Needs (Basic Food & Basic Toiletries) all the same supplies will be ordered.

  • Personal Needs-We can help facilitate-working with UIHS (medi-cal) for long term. Also, not guaranteed, but we can try to help.

  • Medical- Prescriptions, transportation to essential appointments- we can help facilitate-working with CHRs, UIHS, Yurok Transit.

To ensure that you receive updates from the Tribe, please update your contact information with Enrollment calling the hotline or email: krystel@yuroktribe.nsn.us

Yurok Tribe Transit Services Yurok Tribe Transit Service has changed how services are offered. Dispatch (707)482-073


  • Yurok Tribe Transit Service will continue to assist the community by providing medical transportation with the limit of one passenger at a time.

  • We will be collaborating with the Yurok Social Services Department to assist outreach to the community as needed.

  • Updates will be posted on the Yurok Tribe’s and YTTS Facebook pages or call dispatch (707)482-0731 for information on the current status of transit services.

Yurok Indian Housing Authority (YIHA)

  • As of March 13, the lobby has been closed to the public and all inquiries need to be made as a call-in or email.

  • Program emails should be directed to Rachel Dowd at rdowd@yurokhousing.com.

  • The Program Operations and Maintenance staff are closed until Monday, April 20.

  • If there is an elder emergency or tenant emergency, tribal members can call Kinney Childs III at (707)954-6858.

  • Regular business: applications are available on the YIHA website at www.yurokhousing.com and will be processed when staff return to the office.

  • Starting April 10, and continuing next week, YIHA is delivering an elder’s shelter-in-place box that includes Kleenex, Tylenol, Cleaning Supplies, Blanket, Crossword book, cough drops, and tea. This will go out to the 51 Elders currently served by the Yurok Indian Housing Authority.

  • 10 new homes being constructed in Tulley Creek are continuing construction as an essential service to build new homes for the community.

  • There are also two additional individual homes for tribal elders that will be constructed this construction year.

  • The Board of Commissioners waived all rent and homeowner payments for the month of April.

  • New Tribal Council Liaison, Council Member Ryan Ray, Requa District will be joining the Yurok Indian Housing Authority meetings. The April meeting was cancelled but YIHA will be working to have a May meeting on the second Tuesday of the May as a call-in “GO-TO” meeting.


Operations Update

  • 28 total elder firewood deliveries.

  • 41 Elder food box deliveries

  • For more information call 1-888-225-8952

Yurok Education Department

  • Yurok Education is providing resources for students to do at a distance including learning videos for Facebook, YouTube and other virtual platforms.

  • Take home learning packets for Head Start students.

  • Education is also offering tutoring support in Google virtual rooms, Yurok language lessons, and other avenues.

  • The Education Department has compiled a list of remote learning resource that can be found here: https://www.yurokoes.org/resources

Planning Section Update:

  • Facilitated Daily 0800 Briefing Meeting.

  • Customized & Distributed ICS-214 to all ICS positions. Revised/Updated/Develop Yurok ICS Org Charts (ICS, Public Health, Elder Check-in Vols).

  • Request Org Chart info from: Public Health/Medical & Food Distribution. Receive & Compile materials for Incident Action Plan (IAP). Developing COVID-19 Database to house Yurok COVID docs/activity.

  • Requested completed ICS-214 forms from ICS team to be filled out daily and turned in weekly.

  • Information & Intelligence

  • Yurok Connect is waiving all fees for internet services to current customers for the month of April. In addition, there will be no shut offs for nonpayment during the current public health crisis. Email Yurokconnect@yuroktribe.nsn.us for any questions or problems with your Yurok Connect service.


Yurok Tribal Court Programs and services are still operational during this time. The Yurok Justice Center and all offices are currently physically closed to the public. You may contact the Clerk’s Office e-mail at CourtClerk@yuroktribe.nsn.us or call (707) 482-1350 ext. 1406.

Community Updates

  • Pem-Mey Fuel Mart in Klamath is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Full service fuel, groceries and convenient store items: Available by placing a phone order, or ordering items at the store window. To place a phone order at Pem-Mey, please call: (707)482-3510.

  • Pek-Tah Fuel Mart in Weitchpec is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Full service fuel, groceries and convenient store items: Available by placing a phone order, or ordering items at the store window. To place an order at Pek-Tah, please call: (530) 625-4173.

  • Fuel is available after hours by paying with a credit card at the pump

The leadership, and many dedicated staff are tireless in their efforts to mitigate a very difficult situation. The Yurok Tribe is working to stay ahead of the curve. The Yurok Office of Emergence Services is providing regular updates to the upriver and downriver communities via the Tribe’s social media pages, local sandwich board notification stations and at yurokoes.org.

For more information regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic please visit:


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