With Covid-19 vaccinations bringing the San Carlos Apache Nation closer to 80 percent herd immunity, the Tribal Council voted unanimously on Feb. 22 to end many of the restrictions imposed over the past year.

Following a Tribe Emergency Response Committee recommendation, the council moved to rescind its stay-at-home order, discontinue reservation border checkpoints and lift the curfew.

However, the state of emergency will continue until further notice, gatherings will still be limited to 50 people and commercial bus transportation remains suspended.

The motion also allowed businesses and vendors to open fully, subject to temperature checks and following Centers for Disease Control guidelines; opened ball parks, gyms and skate parks from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., subject to the 50-person limit; lifted restrictions on funerals and wakes; reopened the Apache Stronghold Golf Course; reopened the reservation to non-member/non-resident visitors; reinstated fishing and hunting for non-members; and permitted children under 13 to enter businesses with adult supervision, provided mask-wearing is strictly enforced.

In addition, the measure reinstated travel for Tribal business but encouraged departments to seek alternatives including video and phone conferences. It also allowed walking, running and horseback riding on lower-elevation trails; commercial liquor sales; camping, subject to fire restrictions; and mineral collecting and antler harvesting for tribal members holding a permit.

Off-reservation travel for essential supplies will remain open every day of the week.

“Thank you for helping the Tribe get to this point of lifting certain restrictions,” Chairman Terry Rambler said on social media. “I ask you to continue wearing your masks and please get your vaccine for your safety and the safety of your loved ones.”

Though many restrictions have been lifted, the Tribe will continue following CDC guidelines. Social distancing, masks or face coverings and sanitizing surfaces are still mandatory in public areas. Anyone found not wearing a mask or face covering in public areas will be subject to a warning, followed by fines.

According to San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation (SCAHC) data, the tribe was near 65 percent herd immunity on Feb. 23.

“I believe the vaccination program is gaining momentum,” said Dr. James Darragh, of SCAHC. “In less than six weeks we’ve seen a significant decline in the number of cases. We need to vaccinate between 2,400 and 3,800 prime doses to almost guarantee 80 percent herd immunity. We just need to get to a higher percentage of the population.

“To do this – if we assume 3,000 is the midpoint – we need to be able to give 500 prime doses for the next six weeks. It would still take another two weeks after that for patients to develop their antibodies.”

“We asked for another tray of the Pfizer vaccine – 1,000-plus doses,” said SCAHC Chief Executive Officer Victoria Began. “With the additional Pfizer, we have the ability to get to those numbers.”

Darragh said the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were very effective against Covid-19 variants, which were among the Council’s concerns, and added that reaching 80 percent herd immunity would provide a “buffer zone” against those variants coming to San Carlos.

“If you come in and get your vaccine, it’s almost a guarantee you will not get Covid-19,” he said. “I urge everyone to come in and get the vaccine.

“We have to continue and push forward with our vaccination program. We have now completed the emergency phase of the pandemic. We have stopped the widespread community outbreak of the virus, and are currently moving to the containment phase.”