CRIT eases restrictions as COVID numbers decrease

Thanks to a decline in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the CRIT Tribal Council voted Friday to reinstate its ‘Safer At Home’ resolution, which eases some restrictions resulting from the pandemic.

The more restrictive ‘Stay At Home’ resolution has been in place since late December.

Over the past 14 days there have been only 8 newly reported coronavirus cases on the CRIT reservation, which represents a 14 percent decrease and COVID-19 related hospitalizations are down 23 percent.

The number of active cases has also been falling steadily, from more than 130 in mid-January to less than 10.

The new resolution goes into effect on March 13th and will remain in effect until at least April 30th.

While the news is encouraging, the Tribal Council is still urging the community to shelter in place if possible, especially those with underlying health conditions. And CRIT’s prior face mask rules for public settings are still in place.

Tribal Council Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “These improved numbers represent the Tribal Council’s sustained efforts to curb the pandemic and the CRIT community’s willingness to make personal sacrifices to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The danger has not passed, but it has significantly decreased and for that we are all grateful. Thanks to all who have worked so hard to keep our community safe.”

The guidelines include part-time leaseholders being allowed to return with members of their immediate household, gatherings of less than 10 indoors and less than 25 outdoors with masks and social distancing, dining at up to 50 percent capacity with Council approval, church gatherings with Council approval and schools with hybrid in-person / virtual learning.

Read the text of the order HERE.