Havre, Hays-Lodge Pole public schools also closing Monday

Havre Daily News staff

Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson told the Havre Daily News today Havre Public Schools will be closed Monday, and Hays-Lodge Pole Public Schools said in a post on its Facebook page that it's schools also will be closed Monday.

Carlson said more details will be forthcoming.

Havre Public Schools also announced the closure with an automated telephone message to people in the community.

The Hays-Lodge Pole post said the day will be counted as a pupil instruction related day, PIR, so all faculty and staff are expected to report to work for planning and sanitizing purposes related to the COVID-19 situation.

The Blaine County Health Department said in a post on its Facebook page that no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Blaine County.

No cases had been confirmed in Hill County by this weekend, either.

Havre and Hays-Lodge Pole schools' announcements follow announcements of the closures of Box Elder and Rocky Boy schools and the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation declaring an emergency and asking people on the reservation who had traveled out of state or to high-risk areas, including the state basketball tournaments, to self-quarantine.

Gov. Steve Bullock declared a state of emergency for Montana Thursday, saying the state of emergency “allows the governor to direct a coordinated response to an outbreak of communicable disease. This includes mobilizing all available state resources, such as emergency funds or personnel from the National Guard. It also allows the governor to take additional steps as warranted.”

He then confirmed Friday that four cases of presumptive COVID-19 had been found in the state. Confirmations are known as "presumptive" until confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The presumptive confirmations were for a Gallatin County man in his 40s, a Yellowstone County woman in her 50s, a Silver Bow County man in his 50s and a Lewis and Clark County man in his 50s, a release from the governor's office said

Friday, President Donald Trump also declared a state of emergency for the United States.

Northern Montana Health Care announced Friday it is establishing an alternative COVID-19 clinic on the east end of the NMHC in the building formerly known as Medical Group East.

The NHMC release said the most important thing people should do if they experience symptoms of COVID-19 is to self-isolate. Quarantining themselves and their family members will help reduce the spread of the virus.

People with the symptoms are urged to avoid close contact with others in their household and with pets while the household is self-isolated.

People experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19, typically fever, dry cough, sore throat, stomach issues or nasal secretions - a runny nose - are advised to treat their symptoms with Tylenol, Motrin and over-the-counter cold medicines, the NMHC release said.

As with any viral infection, people with COVID-19 are advised to get plenty of rest and stay well-hydrated, drinking plenty of fluids or eating broth-based soups like chicken noodle or vegetable soup.

People who are unable to manage their symptoms at home are advised to first contact health care professionals by telephone.

Local patients who believe they may need to be assessed by a health care professional are asked to report to the parking lot of the COVID-19 clinic at 124 13th Street by the alternate clinic and then to call 262-1570.

NMHC is asking the community at this time to use the Emergency Department at Northern Montana Hospital for life-threatening conditions only.

Northern Montana Hospital and Northern Montana Care Center are not accepting visitors and the facilities are locked. People who need to access the hospital are asked to call 265-2211 and speak to the administrative director on shift,

The virus was first detected in China in late December.

World Health Organization reported Friday that, since the outbreak in December, worldwide, 132,758 cases have been confirmed and 4,955 COVID-19-related deaths have been confirmed.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that 1,629 cases have been reported in the U.S. in 46 states and the District of Columbia, and it has caused 41 deaths in the U.S.