PLPT chairman implores residents to stay at home with COVID-19 cases rising

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

With the number of COVID-19 cases on the reservation having jumped from four to 20 in less than 10 days, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Chairman Anthony Sampson took to YouTube Tuesday afternoon to admonish residents on the reservation for not following stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the virus.

The Tribal health clinic reported Monday that there are 20 confirmed positive cases on the reservation, with 14 in Nixon, four in Sutcliffe and two in Wadsworth.

Sampson, who said he was self-quarantined at home because of a possible exposure to the virus, said residents may not be happy, but must start following the stay-at-home orders that were voted on by the Tribal council.

“You guys have got to start taking what we’re trying to tell you guys seriously,” he said. “I can’t reiterate to you guys enough. Stay home. Self-isolate. The more we move about, the more the virus moves about.”

Tribal Administration and Natural Resource buildings in Nixon were closed Monday due to possible exposures, and the Emergency Operations Center will be temporarily house at the fire station in Nixon, while the Administration building undergo a thorough cleaning.

“I’m pleading with you people out there,” Sampson said. “You have to start taking this seriously. You have to.”