13 Cases Of COVID-19 Added To VC Total

The Valley County Health Department and Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital confirmed 13 cases of COVID-19 over the past week, with eight cases announced on Aug. 14 and five cases announced on Aug. 16. As of Aug. 17, at 5 p.m., Valley County has 36 cases total, with 25 cases recovered and 11 active cases.

Case 24 is a female in her 40s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic with the source of her infection unknown.

Case 25 is female in her 50s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic with the source of her infection unknown.

Case 26 is a female in her 30s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic with the source of her infection unknown.

Case 27 is a male in his 40s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 28 is a male aged 10-19 who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 29 is a male aged 10-19 who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 30 is a female in her 60s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 31 is a female in her 40s who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing have begun. This individual was identified through contact tracing.

During the course of their investigation, the Valley County Health Department reached 87 people, as of Aug. 14, at 2:30 p.m., as identified as close contacts to the confirmed cases. It was determined several of the positive persons attended mass community events, a derby, wedding and live band events, over the past week.

The Valley County Health Department asks everyone to get in touch with the Health Department when planning an event or activity, no matter the size, and submit an event/activity plan. The plan will allow everyone to think of all prevention measures that should be considered as well as the responsibility of holding the gathering. The form can mailed, e-mailed, faxed or picked up by contacting the Health Department at 228-6261.

Five additional cases were announced on Aug. 16.

Case 32 is a female age 10-19 who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 33 is a female age nine or less who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. This individual is symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 34 is a female age 60-69 who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are ongoing. This individual is not symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 35 is a female age 20-29 who is not hospitalized and is isolating at home. The investigation and contact tracing are ongoing. This individual is not symptomatic and was identified through contact tracing.

Case 36 is a male age 20-29 who was not hospitalized and was isolated at home. The investigation and contact tracing are complete. The infectious period has passed for this individual and his source of infection is unknown.

Governor Bullock hosted a press conference on Aug. 12 stressing the need to take the virus seriously and follow public health mandates.

“The way we learn to live with this virus in our presence is living in a way where we recognize and acknowledge that significant risk is present, yet collectively we’re acting to mitigate this risk. Clearly, at least collectively, we have not yet learned how to live with the virus in our presence,” Governor Bullock stated.

The governor also stated that people aren’t following public health orders when they have the virus and are asked by public health officials to stay home. He stressed that public health officials are working hard to protect everyone and explained about cases he had heard where individuals were told to quarantine because they’ve been exposed to a positive case, but didn’t follow the direction to isolate. “A positive Montanan won’t infect others if they’re in isolation,” he stated.

As students prepare to go back to school, Governor Bullock also mandated masks be worn in schools in counties with four or more active COVID-19 cases. Bullock issued a directive in mid-July mandating Montanans to wear masks inside businesses and other public buildings that reside in counties with four or more COVID-19 cases. At that time the directive did not apply to schools, however Bullock reversed the decision during the press conference on Aug. 12. Prior to the decision being made, Glasgow Schools decided during their Aug. 6 meeting, masks will be required, no matter the current number of active cases, while in school.