FORT BELKNAP, Mont (NMB) – Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in Blaine County and Fort Belknap, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council has announced the Reservation will be placed on a partial shutdown.
The shutdown will begin at 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 10th and will run through November 2nd.
During this time, FBIC employees may revert back to working from home.
A 10 PM nightly curfew will be enforced, and businesses will have to close before curfew.
Out of area travelers will be restricted from stopping in Fort Belknap except for medical purposes.
Reservation residents will be asked to keep travel to essential purposes only. Activities such as hunting, farming, fishing, ranching, water hauling, biking, hiking and going for walks are allowed, provided you are only with members of your immediate household.
A press release says this partial shutdown is meant to isolate people and allow health authorities to catch up on contact tracing and slow the spread of COVID-19.
More information regarding the shutdown is available on the Fort Belknap website.
As of Wednesday evening, there were 59 known active COVID-19 cases on the Reservation, including three hospitalizations.
Free COVID-19 vaccines are available on the Reservation by calling the Public Health Nurse at 353-3250 or the Pharmacy at 353-3104.
The drive-thru COVID-19 testing schedule is as follows:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Agency Casino Parking Lot, 9 AM-4 PM
- Tuesday: Hays Kills At Night Center (green building), 10 AM-3 PM
- Thursday: Lodgepole Red Paint Creek Store, 10 AM-3 PM
