Task Force Explains Vaccination Procedures
Members of the Roosevelt County, Fort Peck Tribes, Indian Health Services, Northeast Montana Health Services, Roosevelt Medical Center COVID-19 Task Force met on Wednesday, Jan. 27, with COVID vaccinations and an increase in case numbers being the main topics of the day.
Having completed first doses of COVID vaccination to long-term care facility residents and health care workers, IHS, Roosevelt County Health Department and Roosevelt Medical Center are now vaccinating people in Phase 1B — ages greater than 70, people of color and those with certain high risk medical conditions.
Because entities are being notified only a week in advance of their vaccine allocations, COVID vaccination clinics cannot be planned very far ahead of time. When IHS plans a clinic, they notify the public by radio and Facebook. RCHD currently has a list of more than 500 people who have requested the vaccine in all phases. As doses are received, appointments are set up with those who are in the current phase.
Both IHS and RCHD report receiving about half of the vaccine quantities ordered. It is hoped for and predicted that allocations will increase, but it is not known when that will happen.
A steady uptick in COVID cases took place during the month of January. Cases that arose from holiday gatherings were followed by increases due to schools resuming classes. The largest increase, which is being experienced now, has been seen in youth basketball. COVID-19 is easily transmissible with the close contact seen during basketball practices and games, locker room activities, during the close confines of bus rides and even time on the bench.
Roosevelt County and reservation schools have been working closely with both IHS and RCHD to assist in the identification of close contacts, screening players for symptoms of COVID and even canceling games when necessary.
To get signed up on the Roosevelt County Health Department list for COVID vaccinations:
•Call RCHD at 406-653-6223 or 406-653-6124.
•Go to the Roosevelt County Health Department Facebook page, click on the signup link, and complete the information.
When vaccine is available for your phase, you will be called with an appointment time and place for your vaccination.
The current group of people being vaccinated is Phase 1B:
•Persons aged 70 years and older.
American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications.
Persons aged 16-69 with high-risk medical conditions. Qualifying medical conditions include: cancer; chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); Down Syndrome; heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies; immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant; severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2); Sickle cell disease; Type 1 and 2 Diabetes mellitus. On a case-by-case basis, medical providers may include individuals with other conditions that place them at elevated risk for COVID-19 related complications.
As COVID-19 vaccines become available to the public, basic public health measures will still be needed to slow the spread. Even after vaccination, people in our communities will need to wear masks, practice social distancing, wash hands, and avoid crowds as these measures prevent exposure to the virus. Vaccines can protect a person after exposure to the virus, but not being exposed in the first place remains critically important to disease prevention.
If you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccine, email covid19taskforce@rooseveltcounty. org.
Area Statistics
Roosevelt County’s COVID numbers for the week included: 0 new cases and 11 active cases on Jan. 17, 0 new cases and 10 active cases on Jan. 18, eight new cases and nine active cases on Jan. 19, two new cases and 16 active cases on Jan. 20, seven new cases and 21 active cases on Jan. 21, 0 new cases and 28 active cases on Jan. 24, 13 new cases and 29 active cases on Jan. 25, two new cases and 39 active cases on Jan. 26, four new cases and 36 active cases on Jan. 27, and six new cases and 41 active cases on Jan. 28. There have been 54 total numbers of COVID-related deaths in Roosevelt County.
As of Monday, Feb. 1, Valley County’s active count was 41. Valley County reported 10 deaths due to COVID-19 and/ or complications. There have been 720 recovered cases.
Daniels County had eight active cases as of Tuesday, Feb. 2. The county has 177 recovered cases and 191 cumulative cases. Six deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 and/or complications. There are no cases currently hospitalized.
In McCone County, there was one active case as of Monday, Feb. 1. There are 159 recovered cases.
The Phillips County Health Department was reporting 13 active cases as of Monday, Feb. 1. Four hundred and fifty- five cases are listed as recovered. There is one active hospitalization and 15 reported COVID-related deaths.
For Richland County, there are 16 active cases and 1,086 recovered cases as of Monday, Feb. 1. Total deaths are 15. There are 30-plus contacts being monitored.
Statewide
According to Montana health officials, the state’s total number of known cases now stands at 94,070 since the start of the pandemic. There have been 956,718 tests conducted.
Around the state, there are 3,618 active cases. There are 108 active hospitalizations.
By Tuesday, Feb. 2, a total of 1,234 deaths have been reported statewide. A total of 89,218 people are listed as recovered.
Several health mandates for Montana put into effect by former Gov. Steve Bullock were removed by new Gov. Greg Gianforte Jan. 15.
Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos no longer have to close at 10 p.m. Gianforte encourages businesses to follow public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, but the governor removed capacity limits for businesses.
Former Gov. Steve Bullock’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. The mask mandate in Montana stays in effect, at least, for now.
In an earlier press conference, Gianforte said he will be willing to repeal the mask mandate when vaccines are distributed to the vulnerable and relevant legislation crosses his desk involving incentives, rather than restrictions, for business owners. He said the guiding principals for moving forward will include protecting the vulnerable and creating incentives for business owners and other organizations.
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.
Flu Shots
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 RCHD at 653-6223.
Fort Peck Tribes
Fort Peck Tribes are now in a modified phase 2 reopening. Starting on Jan. 15, all tribal employees returned to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tribal casinos have reopened from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at 50 percent capacity.
No gathering of 30 or more people is allowed. Curfew is 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. COVID-19 & Mental Health
The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing response have brought many changes to our lives. 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.
Vaccine Info
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has released a new dashboard on Monday, Jan. 25, to feature county by county breakdown as far as vaccination numbers.
In Roosevelt County, 713 total doses have been administered. There have been 686 dose #1 administered and 27 fully immunizations.
As of Monday, Feb. 1, 107,300 total doses have been administered in Montana. There are 26,917 fully immunized Montanans.
The map features such information as total doses administered, number of first doses administered, number of people fully immunized, doses administered per 1,000 people and eligible population to be vaccinated.
The dashboard can be found at www.arcgis.com/apps/ MapSeries/index.html?appid=7c-34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b.
