COVID-19 case found in Lake County
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By Karen Peterson / Valley Journal
LAKE COUNTY – An individual has tested positive for COVID-19 in Lake County – although the case count in the county won’t be going up.
The Lake County and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Unified Command Center reported that an individual traveling from out-of-state tested positive while on a work-related trip in the county during the first week of May.
“This person, who has not been in Lake County very long, has had limited interactions in the community,” according to the UCC. “Health officials have concluded that this case should not raise undue alarm in the community.”
The individual is not a Lake County resident so the county-case number will not be increased. The number of local cases remains at five and all of those individuals have recovered from the virus. “The individual will be counted in their home jurisdiction,” UCC states.
A Lake County Public Health nurse interviewed the individual concerning people the person testing positive may have been in contact with while in the county. The person will not be identified to protect their privacy and no other information will be provided.
“Contacts of the case have been directed to quarantine for 14 days,” according to Lake County Public Health. “Public health nurses will continue to follow up with these contacts to assure they remain under quarantine and to monitor their health status.”
The individual is currently in isolation and will be returning to their home in a different state on Friday. “They will not be using public transportation on their return,” according to the UCC.
Although the number of cases in Lake County is low, health officials ask that people remain diligent with protective measures, including social distancing of six feet, hand washing and wearing a mask.
COVID-19 testing is available in the county at both St. Luke Community Healthcare and St. Joseph Medical Center. Tribal Health clinics in Polson and St. Ignatius also have testing.
“Regardless of where you opt to be tested, you must call ahead to be screened and receive further guidance on testing protocol,” according to the Lake County Public Health.
