Lake County prepares for COVID-19
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Health Department’s Health Service Director Emily Colomeda said Lake County residents should take precautions to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
“This whole situation is changing every second it seems,” Colomeda said. “People should be using guidance from the (Centers for Disease Control) and the (Department of Public Health and Human Services) to mitigate the spread of the disease.”
According to Colomeda, the most important change people should make is to ramp up their hygiene by washing their hands. “The biggest thing is to be cognizant that germs are everywhere, not just coronavirus,” she said.
She added that people should wash their hands more than usual, avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth. People should stay home if they have any signs of illness. Colomeda also recommends avoiding large gatherings.
According to the CDC, the main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Colomeda said people should look for those symptoms, especially if they have been to areas that are hotspots for the virus or if they have been in contact with others who have traveled to hotspot areas. Scientists are still figuring out how the virus spreads, and it’s possible that people who are not exhibiting symptoms can spread the virus.
In early March, a woman who lives in Lake County for part of the year tested positive for COVID-19 in Maryland. According to Governor Steve Bullock’s office, she had not been in Montana since November and contracted the illness out of the state.
For those that suspect that they may have the virus, healthcare professionals have issued a few guidelines. People should not go directly to their doctor’s office, but, instead, they should call their healthcare provider before visiting the office. The symptoms will be assessed over the phone. The state health department will approve a test, and the test will be administered. Every positive test is being confirmed by the CDC, and if the lab finds a positive test, the CDC will act to prevent the spread of the potential infection.
Local grocery stores have been hit hard by people stocking up for the epidemic. Colomeda said it’s important not to go overboard with preparing. If people buy too much of an item, like toilet paper, then others won’t be able to purchase it when they need it. Colomeda does recommend everyone always have an emergency preparedness kit that includes food, medication and important documents.
As of March 16, six individuals have tested positive for the illness across the state. The closest cases to Lake County are two cases in Missoula County, confirmed March 14. According to the Governor’s Office, all the cases in the state were contracted outside the state. Colomeda said the state’s ability to process tests for the illness is improving.
“We are working every day to do everything we can to protect the people of Lake County and the Flathead Reservation,” she said.
State and nationwide changes will impact Lake County residents as well. The U.S. House passed a bill Friday that will free up funds to compensate workers for sick leave, make testing for the virus free to all Americans and strengthen unemployment benefits.
The Montana State Supreme Court announced a set of changes to prevent the spread of the illness, including exemptions for at-risk jurors and measures to shift some court functions to remote operations. The bill is not yet in effect. The Senate is expected to pass it next week.
Bullock announced a state of emergency in Montana on March 12 to free up state funding to address the virus. On March 13, the governor amended the state of emergency to align with the national state of emergency. The state of emergency will extend until the federal government announces the threat of COVID-19 is diminished.
On Sunday, March 15, Bullock directed the closure of public K-12 schools for two weeks and strongly recommended social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. (See related front page story.)
