Rocky Boy Health Center holding COVID testing

Rocky Boy Health Center is holding its second drive-through, walk-through COVID-19 testing Friday.

The testing comes as the reservation has gone into a lockdown due to COVID cases being confirmed by the health center, and releases from the center and and the Chippewa Cree Tribe and a resolution by the Chippewa Cree Business Committee urge reservation residents to be tested.

Testing starts from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Rocky Boy Health Center parking lot.

Rocky Boy Health Center is located 6850 Upper Box Elder Rd, Box Elder, MT 59521.

“The testing event was previously planned and in accordance with the governor’s plan to perform more testing,” Rocky Boy Health Board Chief Information Officer Misty Denny said.

Rocky Boy held its first drive-through testing back in May and tested a total of 1,428 people in two days.

All of the results from the COVID-19 tests from samples collected came back negative.

“The first time was a successful event and we had a great turnout,” Denny said.

This time, she said, people at the health center are encouraging younger students and young adults from 18 to 30 to take the test.

  As of Wednesday, the Chippewa Cree Tribe reported five active cases in the surrounding area and declared a Threat Level 4.

People will only be allowed one exit and one entry to the reservation per 24-hour period.

A 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew remains in effect and the business committee requires anyone to wear masks or face coverings when they are out in public within the exterior boundaries of the reservation, which they should do only for essential reasons.

“The Chippewa Cree Tribe is still under a ‘Stay At Home’ order; curfew is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m .; essential travel only and limited supply runs, we are also asking that households limit the amount of people traveling off the reservation,” Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation Facebook page says. “Social gatherings are prohibited at this time.”

Denny said no new precautions are planned at this time, but they are monitoring the situation and will plan accordingly.

  People who have any questions can call the Rocky Boy Health Center at 395-4486.

For more information about the center, people can visit https://www.rbclinic.org .