COVID Positivity Rate Decreases In County
The Roosevelt County COVID-19 Unified Command (task force) met last week to communicate updates from across the county. Of note, the data out of the Fort Peck Tribes shows a decrease in positivity from 25 percent to 18 percent. This is great progress but still needs to decrease further to ensure a safe public environment.
The fatality rate remains much higher than the national average at 4.9 percent. For these reasons, the tribes are remaining shut down.
More will be known about the current positivity rate in the area after results return from the two mass testing days which occurred last week on Friday and Saturday. Officials appreciate individuals who helped put this testing on and those who got tested.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance on options to reduce quarantine for close contacts of persons with COVID-19 on Dec. 2. Montana DPHHS recommends that local health jurisdictions and providers use this amended guideline as best fit their communities. On Dec. 10, the Roosevelt County Board of Health discussed how the county will handle the new guidance. In alignment with the CDC, the state and Fort Peck Tribes, the county maintains that the 14 day quarantine is still the priority quarantine length recommended to keep the community safe.
However, the county acknowledges this length of quarantine can cause hardship for some. If a 14-day quarantine is deemed to cause undue hardship, the other options as identified by the CDC to reduce quarantine can be considered by public health officials on a case-bycase basis depending on testing, symptoms and ability of the close contact to maintain other COVID protocols.
COVID-19 testing continues to be available from your health care provider as well at both IHS locations. If you have questions about COVID, email covid19taskforce@rooseveltcounty. org. For more information, visit the RCHD Facebook or covid19. mt.gov.
Situation report for the week includes: 10 new cases and 29 active on Dec. 7, eight new cases and 39 active on Dec. 8, 10 new cases and 39 active on Dec. 9, three new cases and 45 active on Dec. 10, six new cases and 42 active on Dec. 11, eight new cases and 45 active on Dec. 12, and 44 active cases on Dec. 13. Total number of deaths is 51 in the county.
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.
As of Sunday, Dec. 13, Roosevelt County had 44 current active cases of COVID-19. A total of 47 deaths have been reported. There are two newly recovered cases.
In McCone County, there are 10 active cases. There have been 126 confirmed cases and 116 are listed as recovered.
As of Monday, Dec. 14, Valley County’s active count was 25, with 593 cases listed as recovered. Valley County reported eight deaths due to COVID-19 and/or complications.
Daniels County had five active cases as of Monday, Dec. 14. The county has 126 recovered cases and 136 cumulative cases. Five deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 and/or complications. There is one case currently hospitalized.
The Phillips County Health Department was reporting 25 active cases as of Monday, Dec. 14. Three hundred and thirty-eight cases are listed as recovered. There are five active hospitalization. There have been nine deaths.
For Richland County, there are 65 active cases and 900 recovered cases as of Monday, Dec. 14. Total deaths are nine. There have been 974 total cases in the county. More than 250 contacts are being monitored.
Statewide
According to Montana health officials, a total of 727,059 tests have been conducted statewide since the start of the pandemic.
The state’s total number of known cases now stands at 73,303 since the start of the pandemic.
Around the state, there are 9,707 active cases. There’s been a total of 3,080 hospitalizations with 350 active hospitalizations.
By Sunday, Dec. 13, 818 deaths have been reported statewide. A total of 62,778 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.
On Wednesday, Dec. 16, the Frontier Elementary School started distance learning for all students through Jan. 4, 2021. School resumes on Jan. 5, 2021.
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, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ 2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/ managing-stress-anxiety. html.
Vaccine
Hospitals in Billings and Bozeman were among the first in Montana to receive shipments of the COVID vaccine on Monday, Dec. 14. Several other Montana health care facilities are anticipated to receive doses of the vaccine this week.
Ten health care facilities in the state’s largest cities are scheduled to receive 9,750 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week. All of the doses will go to health care staff.
Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services is working with organizations in the state to develop a plan of how to distribute, store and administer the vaccine. The Indian Health Service is one organization working on procedures. The vaccine must be stored at negative 94 Fahrenheit.
“The hope and the expectation is as we roll into 2021 that additional supplies and a greater level will be received,” Gov. Steve Bullock said.
