Hill County Health Board discusses COVID-19 situation

Hill County Health Officer Jessica Sheehy provided a statewide update Friday during the Hill County Board of Health meeting on the COVID-19 situation.

“Currently, as of this (Friday) morning, we have 243 cases in the state of Montana, last Friday we had 108, so, obviously we’ve had a pretty good increase,” she said, “five deaths total in the state of Montana and 24 hospitalizations.

“Worldwide, we are looking at just topped over a million cases this morning, so clearing still seeing those numbers rise and this obviously the stay-at-place and those types of orders are still taking effect.”

The update this morning at 8 a.m. on the state COVID-19 tracking map reported 299 cases in Montana and six deaths.

Those cases include one in Hill County and one in Liberty County. Hill County has not confirmed another case since the first was confirmed March 25, and Liberty’s sole case was confirmed April 1.

Sheehy said, in Hill County, primarily she and the health department as well the county attorney have been focusing on answering questions around the directive and consulting with the state when they have any concerns.

As for the number of tests that are available in Hill County, she said, for the most part Hill County has about 40 tests, although Rocky Boy Health Service has some as well.

“We are screening patients based on symptoms, contacts and travel-related issues, … we’re trying to be pretty diligent about that and for the most part what we have been screening is negative,” Sheehy said, “For the most part, what we’re seeing is just typical upper respiratory symptoms and if you are symptomatic we are encouraging you to stay home, and I think, employers have been pretty supportive on that thus far.”

As of Friday morning, Sheehy said, in Hill County the number of tests conducted are 24 and two are pending.

She added that the new order coming out by Gov. Steve Bullock is clarifying any issues brought up over the last week and primary states businesses excluding restaurants, post offices and so on are restricted to appointment only access.

“We had lots of concerns over that this week and it’s more just to reiterate that the county is supporting the governor’s directives and can enforce things if we need to and that those businesses that are remaining open should be appointment only,” she said. 

Hill County Health Department Director Kim Larson said local officials have been working to implement Gov. Steve Bullock’s directives.

“We are just following the governor’s stay-at-home directive which went into effect (March 28),” she said. “... I feel like our community is doing a pretty good job of following that order, it just has been a learning curve for everybody, but that is still in effect till next Friday.”

Larson said Bullock held a press conference Friday where he expressed extending his directive till Friday, April 24.

Hill County Attorney Karen Alley said the stay-at-home directive has gone OK and has been a learning curve not just for her, but for everyone else.

“I do appreciate everybody’s patience with us as we’ve been working through this process,” she said.

In terms of numbers of citations or concerns issued, she said, there has not been any made at this point in time.

“We have not needed to,” Alley said. “... The businesses that we have been in contact with we’ve been able to, for the most part work through what we need to work through and there have been no citations.”

Hill County is still sitting at one confirmed case, she said, adding that the National Guard is activated in town, screening passengers who are getting off at the Havre Amtrak station.

Bullock authorized the National Guard last week to screen people in major airports and rail stations coming into Montana for their temperature and for potential history of contact in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Alley said the Hill County Health Department has been receiving a lot of phone calls and emails, so a separate email account has been created for answering questions and information about the coronavirus specifically at [email protected].

The Hill County Health Department has received COVID-19 response funding of about $37,000 through The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant, for all the amount of time spent on this for public health.

“So that’s nice,” Larson said. “That will be coming over the next year. There is a possibility of future funding, but the state is not sure at this time.”

The next Board of Health conference call will be Friday at 1 p.m.