Citing the high number of coronavirus cases in Pottawatomie County, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation will require face masks and social distancing measures for people at businesses within the tribe's jurisdiction beginning today, Monday July 20.
This includes all Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal offices and buildings and more than a 20 of tribally owned businesses including the Grand Lake Casino Hotel and Resort, FireLake Entertainment Center and FireLake Discount Foods in Shawnee.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Chairman John "Rocky" Barrett said their policy is similar to what other national retailers like Walmart and Target are doing and said, "It’s a simple step to take to protect each other and keep our communities healthy."
Barrett said their employees will continue wearing masks, using hand sanitzer and deep cleaning their facilities.
Face masks must cover the person's nose and mouth, but can be removed while eating, drinking or while outside and socially distant from others. Children aged 10 and under are exempt, as are those who would need assistance to remove their face covering.
If someone enters a CPN business without a face mask, they will be asked to either put on a face mask or leave the property.
