(KAIR)--The Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas is taking preventative measures as COVID-19 continues to spread, closing its senior center, ending health clinic walk-ins, canceling community events, and implementing a travel ban for employees. “We want to maintain a safe and healthy community, and encourage our community members to adopt practices protecting the health of themselves and others,” Kickapoo Tribal Chairman Lester Randall told MSC News, adding that the Kickapoo Senior Center will be closed until further notice due to the coronavirus threat. “We’re going to take these preventative measures with our elderly because they’re saying people that are 50 to 60 are more susceptible to [COVID-19]. We’re trying to urge all of our seniors to stay home and away from large, public venues.”

All seniors who reside within the service area of the senior center can have meals delivered to their homes directly, and commodities will be available and distributed as usual.

Randall said the Tribe has also suspended walk-in patients at the Tribal Health Clinic. “That’s kind of not only to protect the employees that are working there, but it’s also for the patients that are in the area,” Randall said. “At least if they have to make an appointment, we know what’s going to walk-in to that clinic. Then, if it’s something that can be done at home, the nurses can obviously tell them what to do at home. If they do need to see a doctor, then we can set a referral for them to go somewhere else.”

Anyone wanting an appointment should call 785-486-2154.

All Tribal community events have been canceled until further notice, and the Tribe has issued a travel ban for all employees in an effort of prevention.