SAN CARLOS — Despite the increasing number of positive cases and deaths, the San Carlos Tribal Council voted unanimously to initiate Phase II of its re-opening plan later this month.
The council voted to begin re-opening of tribal government, businesses and other activities starting July 14, pending approval by the council.
In the interim, the council voted to continue limits on travel and the face covering order through July 13, with two exceptions — tribal members will be able to travel on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays for traditional Apache harvesting of food, medicine and basket-weaving materials; and the check point at Peridot Siding Road will be open to travelers those same days.
The Tribal Council has enacted a number of measures in hopes of limiting spread of COVID-19, including a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., a moratorium on wakes and funerals and prohibiting children 13 and younger from entering any tribal business.
The Tribal Emergency Response Commission also suspended local and online food vendor sales until July 15.
A total of 168 tribal members have tested positive for COVID-19 — 146 on the reservation and 22 off. Forty-eight have recovered, 115 cases are still active and there have been five deaths — four off reservation and one on.
