Cow Creek Lifts Indoor Masks In Tandem With Oregon
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians announced Wednesday that masks will no longer be required indoors within most areas of the Tribal Government starting next week.
Below is a statement announcing the decision:
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians announced that masks are no longer required within most areas of the Tribal Government, effective as of 11:59PM on Friday, March 11, 2022.
Masks are still required for both employees and patients at all Cow Creek Health and Wellness Centers and offices, as well as Cow Creek Public Health and Behavioral Health.
Local infections of COVID-19 are fading, and hospitalization rates have declined. Cow Creek employee vaccination rates have increased. These improving statistics show we can scale back some COVID regulations safely.
However, the risk of COVID-19 is not eliminated completely. Employees may decide to continue to wear a mask based on personal choice.
“We want to be respectful of others and support their wishes if they choose to continue wearing a mask,” said Michael Rondeau, CEO and Tribal Administrator.
The Cow Creek Tribal Government continues to recommend others to get fully vaccinated and boosted as the best measure to prevent illness from COVID-19. Hygienic best practices continue to be a strong defense against germs and viruses: wash your hands, regularly disinfect areas of high contact, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and stay home if you feel ill.
The State of Oregon lifted its indoor mask mandate in most public places and schools as of 11:59PM on March 11, 2022. Cow Creek Government Offices have been open to Tribal members and the public as of October last year.
The current indoor mask mandate for Cow Creek was reinstated following the Delta variant surge in August, 2021, and continued through the most recent Omicron variant surge. Indoor masking was first installed at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, then lifted initially in June 2021.
