Pueblo of Jemez (New Mexico)

Indianz.Com > COVID-19 > Pueblo of Jemez (New Mexico)

Posted: April 24, 2020

The Pueblo of Jemez has confirmed the first COVID-19 case within the tribal community in New Mexico.

In a video message on April 24, 2020, 1st Lt Governor John Galvan said the tribe’s COVID-19 response team took immediate steps to address the case. The person has been isolated and the person’s family has been quarantined.

Additionally, 20 people who have come in contact with the person have been tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

“All have tested negative,” Galvan said in the video.

“We are very fortunate that the case had limited contact with others,” Kristin Yepa of the Jemez Health and Human Services Response team added.

The tribe’s approach to preventing the spread of the coronavirus focuses on isolating the confirmed case, tracing the contacts of the person and quarantining people who have had close contacts with a confirmed case.

“Close contact is defined as anyone who has: 1) contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, 2) lives with someone who has COVID-19, 3) having spent 2 hours or longer in the same room or vehicle with someone with COVID-19, 4) having been face-to-face for more than 15 minutes within 6 feet or less of someone who has COVID-19,” Steven Mora of JHHS said in the video.

“Close contacts will be required to quarantine,” Yepa said.

The tribe is also preparing to use a fitness center as an alternative care site on the reservation for “low risk” individuals, Yepa said.

A separate alternative care site has been established by the Pueblo of Pojoaque, in northern New Mexico. The tribe is accepting people from other Pueblos in the state.

Jemez Pueblo is a relatively small community in Sandoval County. About 2,000 people live there, and all are Native American, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sandoval County is one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus, with 345 confirmed cases and 8 deaths, as of April 23. according to the New Mexico Department of Health. In addition to Jemez, the county is home to several Pueblos and parts of the Navajo Nation.

Data maintained by the Navajo Nation shows 14 of its citizens in Sandoval County testing positive for COVID-19 as of April 23.

The state of New Mexico previously confirmed outbreaks at the Pueblo of San Felipe and at the Pueblo of Zia. Both are in Sandoval County.

Overall, American Indians and Alaska Natives are being disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. As of April 23, they account for nearly 44 percent of positive cases, according to the state data. Native Americans account for 9.6 percent of the total population.