The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Health and Human Services shared this announcement on October 29:
COVID-19 is quickly spreading in outstate rural Minnesota with a rate of spread that is significantly higher than in the metro area. Our community has increasingly been impacted by positive COVID-19 cases and more of our employees are being impacted. This includes one employee in the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Family Services Department who has a confirmed case of COVID-19. Immediate action was taken and contact-tracing confirmed finding no Band clients were exposed to COVID-19 by this employee. Anyone who had a scheduled visit this week has been contacted and notified that their scheduled visits for this week had to be rescheduled.
Out of an abundance of caution and concern for safety of the families we serve, the department will temporarily be conducting visits by video until we are certain that it is safe for Band families and employees to resume in-person visits.
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm notified tribes last night that we are just beginning a third wave of infection that is likely to hit reservation communities hard.
The Health and Human Services Department is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect our Band Members throughout and after this third wave.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact:
Nicole Anderson, Commissioner of Health & Human Services, 320-364-9969
Carmen Kalk, Executive Director of Human Services, 320-364-9116
Tabatha Boyd, Director of Family Services, 320-362-4258