The Missoula City-County Health Department’s infectious disease and emergency preparedness teams, along with local and state partners, continue to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation overseas and in the United States and have created a response plan should any cases be confirmed in Missoula County. Currently there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Montana.
“We’ve increased communications with the state, local hospitals, clinics and emergency responders and we also designated staff to monitor information daily. Our team also created targeted messaging for groups, such as medical providers,” said Cindy Farr, incident commander for the county’s response team. “We’ve used preparedness exercises to test our response plan and are taking proactive steps to make sure the public has the necessary information.”
The department urges Missoula County residents who have traveled to China, Italy, South Korea, Japan or Iran in the last 14 days to contact them as soon as possible, as these countries have experienced sustained or widespread COVID-19 cases. Please call 406-258-3896.
“If anyone has recently visited the countries of concern, we need them to talk to the health department,” Farr said. “We want to make sure they don’t develop symptoms.”
While Missoula County currently does not have any cases, the health department encourages the public to take the following basic precautions:
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces with regular household cleaners.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• If soap and water are not available for handwashing, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Do not travel to areas identified as being at elevated risk for the virus.
The MCCHD also encourages people to watch for symptoms such as a fever greater than 100.4 F, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Those who do develop symptoms should call their medical provider and stay home except to receive medical treatment. Farr also said that despite the hype, wearing masks is not a recommended way to prevent the disease.
“We need the public’s help at this point,” Farr said. “There’s no cause for panic, but being aware and increasing basic things like hand washing can go a long way.”
Currently there is no way to screen people for their risk or exposure to COVID-19. Tests can only diagnose someone showing symptoms with COVID-19. These tests are limited so Farr said they will access the likelihood of the person being exposed to the virus before testing.
Potomac, Swan Valley and Seeley Lake Elementary Schools are following MCCHD recommendations and provided information to parents regarding their preventative measures.
The schools are regularly cleaning all commonly touched surfaces including doorknobs, light switches, desk surfaces and keyboards with anti-viral solutions. Students are encouraged to wash their hands frequently, with soap for at least 20 seconds; cough or sneeze into an elbow or use a tissue and place immediately in the trash; avoid touching their mouth, noses or eyes; don’t share food or drinks; avoid close contact with people who are sick and parents are asked to keep students home who have a fever, are coughing or who have other respiratory symptoms. SLE added that students who are sick at school will be isolated in the school office until parents can pick them up.
SLE told parents in a letter they will follow the US Centers for Disease Control, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Missoula City County Health Department recommendations to prevent any infection of any respiratory virus. They will take guidance from the MCCHD on when to exclude student(s) from school and collaborate with them on considerations for closing school due to high numbers of ill staff and students or for deep cleaning.
If the school should be shut down or students are isolated from school awaiting COVID-19 results, SLE will utilize technology to facilitate education from home. As of this fall, all class lesson plans are available online.
Finally, SLE encourages parents and teachers to be proactive with travel plans over spring break to avoid areas and situations that are high risk.
Accurate, updated information also is available at http://missoula.co/cvirus or by calling 406-258-INFO.
Reader Comments(0)