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COVID-19 surge hits Hill County

Six new active infections confirmed in the county

Hill County saw a surge in new COVID-19 cases over the weekend since the first case was identified in March.

Six new cases are confirmed, one Saturday and five Monday through contact tracing, bringing the total number of seven in Hill County with six active cases.

"All five of (Monday's) cases were found through contact tracing," Hill County Public Health Director Kim Larson said in a statement sent to the Havre Daily News

She said the new cases are a man in his 40s, two female and one male teen and a man in his 30s.

Saturday's case was a woman in her 30s who had not left Hill County.

The people identified Monday are isolating and the health department is performing contact tracing, Larson said.

A close contact is defined as someone who has been within about 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time, she said, adding that someone who has had direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case, like getting coughed or sneezed on, will be tested and quarantined for 14 days regardless of those test results.

The best way to prevent illness, she said, is to avoid being exposed to this virus. People should practice prevention daily by taking actions inlcuding:

• Washing their hands often;

• Avoiding close contact with other people;

• Covering their mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around other people;

• Covering their coughs and sneezes;

• Cleaning and disinfecting;

• Monitoring their health.

"We need to be very proactive in preventing COVID-19 from spreading more into our community," Larson said. "We need to protect those who are most at risk by staying home, limiting the number of people you are around, washing your hands frequently, wearing a cloth face covering when you are around people and social distancing is not attainable and staying home if you feel sick."

She said it is the recommendation of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services as well as the Hill County Health Department for people to wear a cloth face covering them when out in public, especially in areas where social distancing may be hard to attain. 

People who have questions can email them to [email protected] or call the health department Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. at 400-2415.

Bullhook Community Health Center is doing drive-through testing Wednesday at Havre High School's west parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rocky Boy Health Center is also doing its second drive-through testing. That is set for Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

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