Blackfeet launches next phase of reopening on Monday

The Blackfeet Nation will move into Phase 3 of its reopening on Monday, a date that marks exactly one year since the tribe declared a state of emergency at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal leaders announced Thursday.

The phase, titled “New Normal,” loosens several restrictions on community gatherings and eliminates various fines associated with reservation residents found to be in violation of social distancing and masking requirements.

During Phase 2 of the tribe’s reopening plan, community members were required to limit their interactions with households other than their own and unapproved gatherings were forbidden. The phase called for $500 fines for those who did not practice social distancing or mask-wearing in public spaces or for those engaged in house parties, and also hit individuals who violated quarantine and isolation orders with a heftier $5,000 fine.

That fining system, according to the tribe’s website, is no longer included in this phase.

In addition, gatherings such as funerals, weddings, birthdays and spiritual events can occur, but the person overseeing the event must submit a COVID-19 safety plan to the safety officer, tribal public health officer and incident commander for approval. The plan does not specify capacity limits on gatherings.

Residents must still practice social distancing, sanitizing and mask-wearing, an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew remains in place for those 18 and under and alcohol sales may now occur from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Businesses, including bars and restaurants, may now offer indoor dining at 50% to 75% capacity and lodging facilities may accept non-tourist reservations.

And on the school front, facilities offering in-person school instruction are expected to have plans in place for reducing COVID-19 transmission in school settings. Plans for reopening schools must be shared with tribal officials.

A RECENT news release noted that the ability to move into Phase 3 of reopening is largely due to “the diligence and care shown by the residents of the Blackfeet Nation and health-care organizations throughout the pandemic.”

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council received approval from local health officials and the tribe’s incident command team prior to making their decision. But the move comes with its own set of risks.

“An important piece of the Phase Plan is that the community can move backward in the Phase Plan, if needed. If the public health or health-care system is strained, or cases rise dramatically, action will be taken to move back into Phase 1,” the release states.

The New Normal guidelines will remain in place so long as there is a continued decline in daily cases and hospitalizations, if all symptomatic, asymptomatic high-risk individuals and contacts have access to COVID-19 testing, and if 50% of the reservation is vaccinated - a figure that indicates elders and other vulnerable members have been administered their shots.

Current data shows the reservation has hit all of those marks.

As of Wednesday, the reservation had only one active case and no hospitalizations. In addition, nearly 5,700 residents have been vaccinated, a figure that accounts for approximately 80% of the nation’s vaccine-eligible population.

As it stands, persons 18 years of age or older qualify to be vaccinated, a population that accounts for about 7,000 of the 10,000 individuals that call the reservation home.

The Indian Health Service and Southern Piegan Clinic personnel have been administering both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

As health-care professionals continue to vaccinate the qualifying population, tribal leaders have asked that individuals continue to social distance, wear masks and sanitize and wash their hands. They also encourage the continuation of COVID-19 testing should one exhibit symptoms.

“The Blackfeet Tribe has taken a strict, safety-oriented approach to ensuring the health and welfare of the Blackfeet Nation,” tribal officials said. “Incident Command will continue to monitor community outbreaks and capacity in the medical and public health sectors as decisions are made regarding the recovery of the community.”

The news release did not offer any insight as to whether the new phase will include the reopening of the east side of Glacier National Park. However, Jim Mcneely, a spokesperson for the Blackfeet Tribe, said a decision regarding the park entrance should be made sometime next week. The entrance was closed throughout the entire 2020 tourist season in an effort to stop the virus from spreading throughout the reservation.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com