Dr. Betty Wong of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still providing assistance in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe EOC. Toward the latter part of August, a review was conducted of the Tribal court for future phased re-opening considerations and a draft plan was established and then reviewed with the Tribal Court staff. A virtual meeting was held with the Tribal school leadership for future phased re-opening considerations and a draft plan was established and reviewed with the WLRP Director and Principal. Additional guidance was also provided to the Mashpee Wampanoag Health Service Unit (IHS) from the CDC, regarding contact tracing and planning. In addition guidance was provided from Dr. Wong to the ICWA dept. on safe cleaning, transporting clients and disinfecting of their transportation vehicle, additional guidance is being planned for the transportation dept. as well. Please see CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting vehicles. A medical self-screening form process was put in place for all essential employees and an electronic version is being established in addition to the Text Illness Monitoring System (TIMS), a product of the CDC which will be implemented for community screening in collaboration with the IHS.
In addition, from the Emergency Management Department in planning for a potential second wave of Covid-19, additional PPE was requested through FEMA. In efforts towards planning steps for future phased re-opening of the Government Center, some new technology based around Covid-19 safety and preparedness have been implemented and are in process. Thermal temperature scanners have been installed at the main entrance and court entrance, Air purifiers with UV light rays have been placed around the facility, Touchless hand sanitizer stations have also been placed around the facility and school. UV light technology boxes for mail, documents and phones are on order for the facility also. Planning is in place for; touchless sinks, touchless soap, touchless paper towel dispenser installments and electrostatic fogging machines in the Community and Government Center and school as well. Additional mandatory safety measures that are already in place are; masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing, temperature checks, negative Covid-19 test results, medical screening checks, disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces.
The MWT EM Department Director Nelson Andrews Jr and EM Department staff Allyssa Hathaway were also able to participate in the FEMA regional workshop in which a potential second wave of Covid-19 was discussed in addition to hurricane preparations during Covid-19. The EM Dept. is working on a complex incident plan in coordination with FEMA Region 1, which is a companion document to the Emergency Operations Plan, pandemic planning annex and hurricane incident annex. Future planning meetings with the Tribal Emergency Response Task Force (TERTF) regarding the draft complex incident plan document including hurricane/Covid-19 preparedness and planning are forthcoming.
Director Andrews also sits as the Co-Chairman for the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Homeland Security and Emergency Services Committee and had worked on coordination efforts to the tribes in the path of Hurricane Laura to assist with coordination from various partners and local USET member tribe mutual aid assistance.
