Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Rodney Bordeaux had ordered an 80-hour lockdown of the reservation, citing a growing number of COVID-19 cases and reports of cases influenza A.
The lockdown starts Sunday night at 10:00 and runs until 6:00 Thursday morning.
Vice President Scott Herman issued a YouTube video saying too many members of the tribe and its neighboring communities aren’t taking the COVID-19 threat seriously, so the tribal council hopes a temporary shutdown will get their attention.
Bordeaux and Herman both say an alarming number of COVID-19 cases on the reservation have occurred in children and tribal elders, with a quarter of active cases involving elders.
Under the shutdown order, businesses such as grocery stores can have no more than 50 people in at one time with gas stations to 10 people. Restaurants will be take-out only with no more than 10 people inside at a time. Face masks are also required.
Individuals who violate the Rosebud Sioux shutdown face arrest and up to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine. Businesses could be fined up to $500 per incident and have their business license suspended.