Warm Springs recovering from initial hard hit of COVID-19 pandemic
There have been 22 deaths, nearly 700 COVID-19 cases since pandemic began
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The COVID-19 pandemic has really changed the way of living on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, according to Louie Pitt, Jr, director of government affairs and planning for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Since the beginning of the pandemic about a year ago, there have been 27 deaths reported by Jefferson County, and 22 of them came from the reservation.
So why was there an initial high death count on the reservation?
Pitt told NewsChannel 21 on Wednesday it had to do with their lifestyle. He said the tribe members are gregarious and like being with each other. He said the tribe initially didn’t realize how serious and deadly the disease was.