Health center begs for coronavirus tests – and gets sent a box of BODY BAGS instead
A HEALTH CENTER serving the Native American community begged for COVID-19 tests in the midst of the pandemic – and were shocked to be sent a box of body bags instead.
"This is a metaphor for what's happening," Abagail Echo-Hawk, the chief research officer of the Indian Health Board, told .
"My team turned ghost white," Esther Lucero, the chief executive officer, added.
The reported delivery from a distributor of the Public Health Department in early weeks of the outbreak was accidental.
Echo-Hawk, however, told NBC she believes the body bags represent a lack of essential resources and funding.
"The Navajo Nation is in a crisis with cases, and there are tribes and other Indian organizations across the country that are in similar crises and can use medical supplies and help instead of watching people die," Echo-Hawk said.
As part of a $2.2trillion relief package passed in late March, $8billion in funds was allocated to go toward Native American tribes.
While funds were supposed to be distributed in April, it was put on hold after at least 15 tribes across the country sued the US Treasury Department.
The tribes suing said the funds should be reserved for 574 tribes that have a government-to-government relationship with the US.
They argued that the funds should not go to Native corporations, which own Native lands but are not tribal governments.
US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in favor of the tribes for the present time, allocating funding now to only go to the 574 tribes until the eligibility of the Alaska Native corporations can be settled.
An undisclosed portion of the funds will be withheld until that decision is made.
Echo-Hawk told NBC that the center was able to get around 200 tests from the country through FEMA.
Although funds are now on their way and the center has the resources necessary, Echo-Hawk said the lack of resources in earlier weeks of the outbreaks – like when the Seattle, area was the first nation's – sparks worry for what would happen if there was a second wave as many experts anticipate.
"We need to have the correct resources and be included at the state and federal level," Echo-Hawk told NBC.
"Until then, Native organizations like mine are going to push forward to create the resources needed for us and by us."
Governors and health workers had , as denied knowing of problems when asked for more supplies.
President Trump said in a from the White House yesterday that the government is committed to giving the Native Americans resources amid the pandemic.
"We will leverage every resource we have to bring safety to our tribal communities, and we will not waver in this mission," Trump said.
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As of Wednesday, there are more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US, with over 71,000 deaths.
Although Seattle is no longer the nation's epicenter, Washington state is still in the top half of states for coronavirus outbreaks.
Across the state, there are more than 15,000 cases of the virus, and 862 deaths.