Fort Belknap entering shut down due to COVID-19

Fort Belknap Indian Reservation's tribal government has announced that, due to the increase in cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Blaine County and on the reservation, the reservation is going into shut down status for two weeks, starting at 11:59 p.m. Friday, as the state has his highest new case number and the Hill County Health Department is warning people that, if they were at a Havre bar, they may have been exposed to the virus that causes the disease.

The Hill County Health Department issued a release this morning saying if people were at the Havre Elks Lodge the evening of Saturday, Sept. 26, they might have been exposed to COVID-19.

"All those identified as close contacts, have been notified by the Health Department," the release said. "If you were not contacted by us, please be vigilant in watching for symptoms. If symptoms do arise, please contact the Northern Montana Flu Clinic at 262-1570 to set up an appointment for evaluation and possible testing."

The release said possible COVID-19 Symptoms to watch for:

•  Fever or chills

•  Cough

•  Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

•  Fatigue

•  Muscle or body aches

•  Headache

•  New loss of taste or smell

•  Sore throat

•  Congestion or runny nose

•  Nausea or vomiting

•  Diarrhea

"Please continue to social distance, wear your face covering, avoid large gatherings and practice good hand hygiene to help stop the spread of COVID-19," the release said.

This morning, Hill County reported seven new cases with no new cases reported by Rocky Boy Health Center at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, Blaine County reported four new cases and the state COVID-19 Response tracking map reported one new case in Chouteau County. The map listed no new cases in Liberty County.

Rocky Boy remains at its Threat Level 3, with a midnight curfew and a stay-at-home order in place, with only essential activities allowing people to leave their residences, with social distancing required.

The state tracking map this morning listed 429 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the state with 3,891 active cases, 178 active hospitalizations and 181 deaths, including three deaths in Hill County.

Cases have been confirmed in Northern Montana Care Center, Havre, Chinook, Harlem and Box Elder schools, with Harlem and Box Elder schools closing their buildings Monday and returning to distanced learning only.

Starting just before midnight Friday, Fort Belknap will enter its shutdown period, and people are asked to plan ahead and get their supplies before it starts. People will be limited to two per vehicle.

"Do your essential shopping quickly before the shutdown begins," a release on the Fort Belknap Indian Community website says. "This step is to reduce driving around and mingling with others during the shutdown period.

"Shut down is to isolate you and your household so that the health authorities can catch up on contact tracing," it adds.

People are told to stay in their own home during the shutdown period.

"If any person does not live in your immediate home," the release says, "they should not be there. This includes relatives, visitors, friends, children's friends."

The release says all travel must be reported in advance to 353-3250, 353-2525 or 353-3246

Out of the area travelers will restricted from Fort Belknap during the shutdown with no exceptions, the release said.

It defines essential travel is defined as short travel for food and supply shopping in close proximity to Fort Belknap or an area that is not listed as a COVID-19 hot spot county, city or state.

It also defines essential travel as emergeny travel for medical emergency to an emergency room at Fort Belknap, Havre or as referred out from the emergency room as needed.