Roosevelt County Reports 100 Active Cases Of COVID-19
Fort Peck Tribes To Issue Third COVID Payment
The Roosevelt County COVID-19 Unified Command (Task Force) continued its bi-weekly meetings with more than a dozen organizations attending the online meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Representatives from the Fort Peck Tribes, local hospitals, Indian Health Services and more shared status updates on the current COVID-19 situation in their facilities.
A representative from Johns Hopkins University was present to provide further information about the newly formed partnership with Fort Peck Tribes to enhance the tribes’ ability to collect, analyze and use relevant COVID-19 data to make strategic decisions around the COVID-19 response. The first report from Johns Hopkins detailed a data-based phase plan for handling the COVID-19 response, case positivity rates, testing sufficiency and more. This was presented to the Fort Peck Tribal Council and IHS.
Data shows that while cases are overall decreasing, there are still enough new daily cases and not enough testing, which means that high precautions still need to be taken. These Johns Hopkins University reports will be shared weekly and can be used by the tribe and other localities to guide decision making.
In an effort to reach a more sufficient testing rate, the tribes are currently organizing two mass testing days in conjunction with Montana Disaster and Emergency Services and the National Guard. These testing days will occur in early December at the Wolf Point Casino and the Poplar Cultural Center locations and will be open to anyone. Testing dates will be released by the end of the week. The goal is to complete 4,000 tests. Tests will be sent to an outof- state lab for quick result reporting.
Information from the Roosevelt County COVID-19 Situation Report includes 11 new cases and 87 active cases on Nov. 10, five new cases and 85 active cases on Nov. 11, 15 new cases and 89 active cases on Nov. 12, seven cases and 96 active cases on Nov. 13, 11 new cases and 97 active cases on Nov. 14, four new cases and 100 active cases on Nov. 15. Total number of deaths in the county that are COVID related is listed as 39.
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’s 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 case of influenza reported last week was not confirmed by the Montana Public Health Laboratory. Roosevelt County remains influenza free so far in the 2020-2021 season.
Fort Peck Tribes announces 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.
As of Monday, Nov. 16, Roosevelt County had 100 current active cases of COVID-19. A total of 39 deaths have been reported. There were four new cases listed for Monday, Nov. 9.
As of Tuesday, Nov. 17, there have been 33 COVID-related deaths of tribally enrolled members on the Fort Peck Reservation.
According to the McCone County Health Department on Monday, Nov. 16, that county has three active cases. McCone has 76 recovered cases, no total deaths and 78 total cases in county, A total of 12 contacts are being monitored.
As of Friday, Nov. 13, Valley County’s active count was 52, with 420 cases listed as recovered. Valley County reported six deaths due to COVID-19 and/or complications.
Daniels County had six active cases as of Tuesday, Nov. 17. The county has 59 recovered cases and 68 cumulative cases. Three deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 and/ or complications. There is zero case currently hospitalized.
As of Sunday, May 15, the Phillips County Health Department was reporting 30 active cases. One hundred ninety-six cases are listed as recovered. There is three active hospitalization. There have been four deaths.
For Richland County, there are 131 active cases and 485 recovered cases as of Monday, Nov. 26. Total deaths are six. There have been 633 total cases in the county. More than 350 contacts are being monitored.
Statewide
According to Montana health officials, a total of 573,334 tests have been conducted statewide since the start of the pandemic.
The state’s total number of known cases now stands at 48,027 since the start of the pandemic.
Around the state, there are 20,009 active cases. There’s been a total of 2,066 hospitalizations with 453 active hospitalizations.
By Tuesday, Nov. 17, 522 deaths have been reported statewide. A total of 27,496 people are listed as recovered.
The governor’s July 15 directive for counties with four or more active cases requires face masking in any indoor space, open to the public, is mandatory for people ages five years and older. For children 2-4 years of age, face coverings are strongly encouraged. A drape may be used for babies.
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.
Below are some helpful ways to cope with increased stress: Know what to do if you are sick or need treatment Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to the news Learn the facts about COVID-19 and help stop the spread of rumors Partake in your favorite (socially-distanced) physical activity Take time to unwind, do activities you enjoy or try something new like meditation Connect with others in a socially-distant, safe way. Try some virtual connections!
Get plenty of sleep Eat healthy meals Try Thrive, a the free emotional health program for adults in Montana: https:// thriveformontana.com/ 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.
Roosevelt County Unified Command Residents on quarantine needing assistance with supplies can call 525-5020 and leave a message detailing assistance requested. Also, people can report others who are not quarantining by calling that number.
If you have questions about COVID-19, use the newly established Joint Information email: covid19taskforce@rooseveltcounty. org.
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.
