Governor’s Mask Mandate “Activated” For Roosevelt County

As of press time Tuesday, July 28, the Roosevelt County Health Department was reporting four active cases of COVID-19 in the county, including at least one in their office. This increase “activiates” the governor’s mask mandate for Roosevelt County.

Law enforcement has stated that they will not enforce the mask mandate, but businesses can require masks be worn by customers and may refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask. Altercations at and/or refusal to leave businesses requiring masks could be treated as trespassing or disorderly conduct.

As of presstime, the Fort Peck Tribes did not have the same mask mandate. Masks are simply recommended by the Fort Peck Tribal Council.

Statewide

According to Montana health officials, 760 COVID-19 cases in the state were reported between July 21 and July 27. This bumped the state’s total number of known cases to 3,381. Around the state, 1,244 people are known to be currently infected, down four from July 20. Sixty-one are hospitalized. Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 201 persons required hospitalization. A total of 2,090 people are listed as recovered, up from 1,334 on Monday, July 20. By Monday, July 27, 47 deaths had been reported statewide, up from 40 deaths July 20.

There have been 158,655 tests conducted statewide since the start of the pandemic, including 19,613 tests processed in the past week. The 3,381 known cases results in an overall 2 percent positive test result rate.

Roosevelt County

At press time, the Roosevelt County Health Department is reporting four total active case, which “activates” the governor’s mask mandate locally. This brings the confirmed total of cases to 12, with eight listed as recovered and zero deaths.

The Fort Peck Tribes/Roosevelt County/IHS COVID-19 task force confirmed July 24 that the county health department is closed due to an employee contracting COVID-19.

The department does not have members at the office to answer phones, so messages will take time to get answered. If county residents have concerns about their personal health or possibility of exposure, contact your personal healthcare provider. Your primary healthcare provider will determine if testing is encouraged or necessary.

Department staff released the following: “We appreciate this is a sudden and odd situation and wish to assure you that arrangements are being made by health department staff working remotely to return to normal operations as soon as possible. The task force will continue to update through this forum. Requests by media agencies may go to the County Public Information Officer.”

Mask Mandate

On Wednesday, July 15, Montana Governor Steve Bullock issued a mandate requiring masks in public spaces in counties with four or more active cases with some caveats. Masks are required: in public indoor spaces, such as businesses, government buildings or grocery stores; and at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people, where social distancing is not possible or not observed.

Masks are not required for children under the age of five, while engaged in a performance for an audience, for the purposes of receiving medical examination or treatment, while consuming food or drink in an establishment selling food or drink, for those with a medical condition preventing safe mask wearing, while communicating with someone who is hearing impaired and for activities where it would be unsafe or impractical.

County sheriff’s and other law enforcement across the state have said that the mask mandate is not enforceable and violations should not be called into 911.

Testing

Governor Steve Bullock announced July 23 that the state will soon be able to expand surveillance COVID-19 testing for critical frontline health care personnel, essential workers and other groups thanks to a partnership with Montana State University. “Surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals is a powerful tool in helping slow the spread of the virus in our Montana communities,” Bullock said. “Montana State University has been an enthusiastic partner in helping find a Montana solution to our testing capacity and I am incredibly grateful for their partnership as we work together to protect the health of Montanans.” Montana State University’s researchers will begin the surveillance testing next week, with a capability of testing 500 people per day. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will determine what Montana populations need to be tested for surveillance and then will ship the samples to a designated laboratory at MSU. The university will use four qPCR machines to do the surveillance testing at the direction of DPHHS.

“This initiative is a step in the right direction and will serve us well in helping to detect the virus among asymptomatic groups of people so that we can take quick action to stop the virus from spreading,” said Montana National Guard Major General Matthew Quinn, who is leading the Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force.

Governor Bullock also announced that the state has finalized a contract with a reference lab, MAKO Medical in North Carolina, to begin processing an anticipated 1,000 tests each day from Montana. The state will take a measured approach to ensure a reasonable turn-around time in receiving back test results.

Roosevelt County Fair

The 2020 Roosevelt County Fair will only be open to 4-H, FFA and Scouts entries. Ugly Fabric Contest participants can hold on to their 2020 submissions and enter them in 2021, along with the 2021 contest. Open class exhibitors may enter projects for 2021 that were made from August 2019 through July 2021.

Fort Peck Tribes

The Fort Peck Tribes have reverted to Phase 2 and the reservation- wide curfew has reverted to a start time of 12:30 a.m. According to TEB member Jestin Dupree, masks are recommended, not mandatory, at this time throughout the reservation.

Valley County

As of July 23, Valley County had three active COVID-19 cases. Case 7 is a male in his 60s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation is ongoing and contact tracing has begun. The individual is a named contact to a positive case and does not have symptoms. Case 8 is a female in her 70s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation is ongoing and contact tracing has begun. Exposure is from an unknown source. This individual is symptomatic. This is the third active case in the county with five previous cases now classified as “recovered.”