In this episode of CNTV News, Brad Clonch and Quin Tran continue their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chickasaw Nation remains committed to the health and wellness of the Chickasaws and the community. Health officials encourage testing for the coronavirus and the Nation offers four drive-through test centers, located in Tishomingo, Ada, Ardmore and Purcell. "We've developed it to be touchless, so we don't touch you and you don't touch us, so it's safe with social distancing. The whole process takes about five to ten minutes," says Dr. John Krueger, Chickasaw Nation Undersecretary of Medical Staff & Quality. "If you test positive, the very first thing to do is don't panic. The vast majority of patients are going to recover just fine. You may have a really bad cold and so the things we normally do for colds apply. If your symptoms start to worsen, the one thing we do know with this virus is that in some patients it can act very rapidly and people can be fine one minute and then just deteriorate over a period of hours where they're having a very difficult time breathing." Doctors say to seek medical attention immediately if you have difficulty breathing. The testing centers are open to everyone. For more information about testing or COVID-19, please call (580) 272-1312.

Emotional wellbeing is also a concern during the pandemic. Chickasaw Nation mental health professionals have had more than 2,100 virtual visits with patients over a five-week period. CNTV News spoke with Dr. Shannon Dial, Executive Officer, Integrated Services Division/Department of Family Services, for an update on the virtual visits and a recent grant her department received to assist in serving citizens. "Those receiving the services, they love it. It is just personalized, in their own home, a private connection, they don't have to go anywhere and nobody has to know that they're receiving services," she says. "And so, even though we unfortunately have had to do this, it actually has taught us things that I don't think we would have ever learned otherwise." Dr. Dial also shares ways that we can care for our mental health during this trying and stressful time. Visit www.chickasaw.net to learn more about the available mental health services available to citizens and employees.

Virtual visits are also being used in other venues like traveling exhibits at museums. One of them is Visual Voices, featuring Chickasaw artists. Now on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Pembroke, Exhibition Program Manager Laura Clark shares how Visual Voices is staying connected with the public during the pandemic. To learn more about the exhibit, visit www.chickasawartists.com. In closing, Brad and Quin leave us with a preview of the latest digital edition of Chokma magazine and a reading of Our Guardian, The Red-Headed Woodpecker from "Chikasha Stories."