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Tribal Council Instructs Police to enforce isolation and quarantine with penalties of up to 360 days in jail and $5,000 fine

Apr 30, 2020

The Colville Business Council has sent a letter to the members alerting them to a change in Tribal code meant to enforce quarantine orders and outlining penalties for violations.

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The numbers of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Colville Reservation continues to climb. There are now 11 people who have been diagnosed positive, and unfortunately, one person has died.

The letter states that, “Despite our sincere hope that we would be able to systematically lift these restrictions by the end of April, it is apparent we will extend into May…This means we must continue to “Stay Home and Stay Safe” and continue to forbid anyone from visiting our homes.” It reads, “The Colville Business Council will take all necessary actions to protect the members of our tribe and communities.”

The Colville Tribes has passed an amendment to the Tribal Code which authorizes criminal prosecution for a violation of Quarantine or Isolation orders. Those violating quarantine or isolation orders, penalties of up to 360 days in jail and a $5,000 fine will be enforced. Isolation and quarantine help protect our tribe and communities by preventing exposure to people from those who have tested positive or those who are presumptive positive of COVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control defines Quarantine and Isolation as follows:

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick, or await test results.

Isolation separates sick people with a quarantinable communicable disease from people who are not sick.

In addition to serving as medical functions, isolation and quarantine also are police functions, derived from the right of a tribal government to act for the benefit of tribal members and our communities. Each patient who receives a positive test result is instructed that they will isolate themselves away from other people until the disease has run its course, as determined by medical professionals. Patients tested are “presumptive positive” and will also quarantine themselves while they await a final test result.