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News you can use
Blaine County Health Department asks for end to rumors
No new cases of COVID-19 were reported in this part of Montana today.
Hill County Health Department and Rocky Boy Health Center confirmed they had no new reported cases today
Blaine and Chouteau County and Fort Belknap Tribal Health Department did not report any confirmed cases.
Blaine County Health Department did put out a request on its Facebook page to put an end to rumors.
"Reminder: When your public health department says things like "isolation", "quarantine", and "close contact" we mean very specific things in relation to COVID-19," the post said.
"When we are saying a case is isolated, that means they have the viral infection and are potentially contagious so are staying away from people that could be infected.
"If we say a contact is quarantined that means we have given instructions to them telling them to stay home, knowing there has been an exposure.
"A close contact is something very specific, too. It is defined as someone who has been within 6 feet for 15 minutes, has had repeated contact with or has had a healthcare related exposure without PPE WITH a known COVID case.
"It shouldn't invite assumptions about what part of the county the case(s) live in. We recognize that some people feel they could better protect themselves and their families if they had ideas about the exact location in which our cases live. Remember there are laws that prevent us from releasing any information that would allow someone to identify health information to include COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure.
"We ask you to consider two things: 1) Please trust the health department to do our job, a large part of which is ensuring further contact doesn't happen once a case or contact is identified and 2) Please think about how you would want your health information protected by the health department if you were to be a case or contact.
"These are difficult times and difficult conversations. Blaine County Health Department's goal is to remain a credible resource for information and public health management during this pandemic. We encourage our county members to help by choosing to be "an extinguisher" instead of someone who fuels the fire of rumors and discord," the post concludes.
https://www.facebook.com/blainecountyhealthdepartment
https://www.facebook.com/Chouteau-County-Health-Department-191027850924298
https://www.facebook.com/hillcountyhealth
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