We are united in our efforts to keep Chickasaws, others healthy

This article appeared in the April 2020 edition of the Chickasaw Times

We are all keenly aware the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is highly contagious and dangerous. We have received specific warnings and directions from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the Chickasaw Nation, we have taken wide-ranging action to blunt the impact of the virus and keep Chickasaw citizens, employees and customers safe.

In mid-March, we announced the closure of a number of Chickasaw facilities. These closures include our senior centers, child development centers, Head Start centers, Chickasaw cultural sites and all Chickasaw casinos.

These closures represent the seriousness of this public health crisis. We simply cannot take incremental steps in our actions. We must do all we can to keep people safe even when it results in economic and social impacts on the Chickasaw Nation.

We will continue to compensate our employees during this time of emergency, and we will endeavor to maintain all essential programs and services at appropriate levels.

Our Chickasaw Nation health care facilities remain open and our caregivers are dedicated to serving our Chickasaw and other Indian patients fully and well.

We are blessed to have our tremendous medical professionals and health care support staff. They are sacrificing daily to ensure our patients are well cared for.

The actions we can take on our own as individuals and families are simple and straightforward. The key is to practice those directions fully and regularly.

All of us at the Chickasaw Nation take this national public health emergency very seriously. We are doing all we can to protect people from the virus, and ensure they have the essentials they need during this period.

We can overcome this challenge if we will all stick together and do the things we know we need to do. This is a time when we must look out for each other, and for the common good of our tribe, our state and our country.

Thank you for joining in the effort. God bless you and your family.