County Reports 72 Active Cases

Area health officials are stressing that flu shots are more important this year than ever because the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to keep the community safe, health officials offer advice and information on these two infections are related.

COVID-19 and the flu are each highly contagious respiratory infections, but have some key differences. They are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is more infectious, and there is a vaccine to prevent the flu. There are some symptom similarities between the two, which may make it difficult to determine which illness you have if you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea. Flu can be a more mild illness than COVID-19, and COVID-19 symptoms also can include loss of taste or smell. It may be necessary to receive testing to determine which illness you are experiencing.

To get a flu shot, make an appointment with the Roosevelt County Health Department or make an appointment with your primary care provider.

Flu shots are available at the following locations: Roosevelt County Health Department, Chief Redstone IHS Clinic in Wolf Point, Verne E. Gibbs IHS Clinic in Poplar, Listerud Rural Health Clinic in Wolf Point, Riverside Clinic in Poplar and Roosevelt Medical Clinic in Culbertson. Vaccines are covered by health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. If you don’t have health insurance, call the health department for assistance at 653-6223.

The Fort Peck Tribes have announced that applications are now available for the third round of CARES Act relief payments. Go to fortpecktribes.org for an application. They are available online or you can pick one up in person. They will not be mailed out. The checks will not be sent out until Dec. 10. According to Johns Hopkins University, Fort Peck Reservation has experienced 722 total cases, There has been a 25 percent positive test rate for the last 14 days. Thirty-two COVID-related deaths have been reported.

As of Monday, Nov. 23, Roosevelt County had 72 current active cases of COVID-19. A total of 44 deaths have been reported. There were nine new cases listed for Monday, Nov. 23.

In McCone County, there are eight cases. There have been 90 confirmed cases and 82 are listed as recovered.

As of Monday, Nov. 23, Valley County’s active count was 44, with 483 cases listed as recovered. Valley County reported six deaths due to COVID-19 and/or complications.

Daniels County had 15 active cases as of Monday, Nov. 23. The county has 80 recovered cases and 98 cumulative cases. Three deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 and/ or complications. There is zero case currently hospitalized.

As of Monday, Nov. 23, the Phillips County Health Department was reporting 47 active cases. Two hundred and thirteen cases are listed as recovered. There is two active hospitalization. There have been five deaths.

For Richland County, there are 157 active cases and 614 recovered cases as of Tuesday, Nov. 24. Total deaths are seven. There have been 778 total cases in the county. More than 350 contacts are being monitored.

Statewide

According to Montana health officials, a total of 622,796 tests have been conducted statewide since the start of the pandemic.

The state’s total number of known cases now stands at 57,504 since the start of the pandemic.

Around the state, there are 16,188 active cases. There’s been a total of 2,420 hospitalizations with 467 active hospitalizations.

By Tuesday, Nov. 24, 630 deaths have been reported statewide. A total of 40,686 people are listed as recovered. The governor’s directive requires face masking in any indoor space, open to the public, is mandatory for people ages 5 years and older. For children 2-4 years of age, face coverings are strongly encouraged. A drape may be used for babies. Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos are limited to 50 percent capacity and must close by 10 p.m. Public gatherings where social distancing isn’t possible or practiced will be limited to 25 people.

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

Area Schools

Local health officials approved the Wolf Point School District to reopen four days a week (Plan A) starting Monday, Nov. 2. Classes began on that day for Wolf Point High School, Wolf Point Junior High School and Northside Elementary Schools. Classes resumed at Southside Elementary on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The Frontier Elementary School started a new schedule for classes. On Monday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 attend. On Tuesday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 attend. On Wednesday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 attend. On Thursday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 attend. On Friday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4 attend. Afternoon dismissal time for all grades has returned to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

The Frazer School returned to in-class instruction Oct. 5. Students are offered the optout option.

Brockton School had students return to classes on Monday, Oct. 19. There are a few students listed as opt-out. Poplar High School students returned to classes on Monday, Nov. 2, with the option of staying remote. Students in middle school and elementary are still distance learning. The tentative plan is for middle school and elementary students to return to classes on Jan. 20, 2021.

Fort Peck Tribes

The Fort Peck Tribes moved to Phase 1 Tuesday, Sept. 29. Phase 1 puts non-essential employees and residents on the reservation under stay at home orders and limits gatherings to 10 people or fewer. All households are being asked to maintain 6 feet distance, wear masks and sanitize.

COVID-19 & Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing response have brought many changes to our lives. Across the world, reports are coming in on how this pandemic affects mental health. These effects include increased stress, fear, anxiety and worry. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Montana, among many others, have begun providing guidance and materials on how to cope with the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. From healthcare workers to caregivers to children to individuals in isolation, COVID-19 is affecting everyone, including residents of Roosevelt County. Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as increased tobacco or alcohol use, can put yourself and those around you at increased risk.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, seek immediate help: Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255, the Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting “MT” to 741-741, Eastern Montana Mental Health Center Toll Free Crisis Phone Line: 800-597-6608, or call 911.If you or a loved one are experiencing a substance use issue, reach out to the following for help: SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 800-487-4889, Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center 653-1872.

For more information, visit the RCHD Facebook page or covid19.mt.gov or the CDC’s Coping with Stress page, https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ daily-life-coping /managing- stress-anxiety.html.

Testing

COVID-19 testing continues to be available from your healthcare provider, as well as at both IHS locations.

Vaccine

On Nov. 9, Pfizer announced its COVID-19 vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing infection. It was announced in July that the Trump administration entered into an agreement with Pfizer to own 100 million doses of the vaccine after it’s manufactured and receives approval or emergency use authorization from the FDA. This $1.95 billion agreement will help with production and nationwide delivery of the vaccine.