Responding to COVID-19

AIHREA and our partners are all keeping a close eye on the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the communities in which we live, work, and serve. This has taken on many different forms including delaying current research projects and re-evaluating future events. As such, it is with heavy hearts that we will be cancelling the 2020 AIHREA Our Nations' Energies Health and Wellness Powwow for the first time since its inception in 2007. We hope to see all of you happy and healthy at our future events after we come out on the other side of this pandemic!

We've included a slideshow below of some of our favorite powwow memories over the years and would love for you to share yours!  Share them with us on social media using the hashtag #AIHREAPowwowMemories!

We recommend that you keep an eye on our social media pages because we hope to announce an event to celebrate the end of all the stay-at-home orders and social distancing this summer. Also, look for our 2019 Annual Report that will be available on June 1!  

Combatting COVID-19

As the number of cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, we strongly encourage our followers to take every possible precaution to prevent the spread of this disease. There are currently 1,400 confirmed cases in the Indian Health Service System and communities continue to be hit hard by this pandemic. Indian Country Today's COVID-19 Syllabus is a great way to stay up-to-date with how COVID-19 is affecting Indian Country.

The best way to prevent getting the illness is to avoid exposure. Here are five things you should do to make sure you and your family members don't get COVID-19.

1. Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds. It is a good idea to do this especially after being out in public, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. If soap and water are not available, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content instead. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, too.
2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home as much as you possibly can, but when you can't maintain at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth mask when around others. Infected individuals are able to spread the virus even before they show symptoms. Wearing a cloth mask protects others if you are infected. You can make do-it-yourself face covers out of a variety of materials including scrap cotton fabric, t-shirts, and bandanas.
4. Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or cough/sneeze into your elbow. Wash your hands immediately afterward.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. 

For more information on COVID-19, what you can do to prevent its spread, and what to do if you think you, or someone you know, might be infected visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) COVID-19 information page.