Powder River County announced their first positive COVID case on Thursday. A Powder River Community member presented to the Medical clinic with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Subsequent testing revealed a confirmed positive.

Powder River Public Health is in the process of contact tracing and will notify anyone identified as being a contact. A contact is defined as anyone who been within 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes with a positive COVID patient. This includes the 2 days prior to symptoms appearing.

In this particular case, symptoms begin July 16, 2020. Public Health has identified and is in the process of contacting individuals whom have had close contact starting July 14th.

Thankfully, this person self-isolated once symptoms began and contacts are relatively low.

In many small counties, the first positive case has received very negative comments from friends and neighbors. Keep in mind that anyone could bring the virus into our community. Anyone who has left the county or state, risks exposure. There is also a risk when having guests in your home. I want to point out that a positive case could be anyone and no one should be ‘blamed’.

On July 15 Governor Bullock executed a directive to protect the communities in Montana. Any county with FOUR or more cases of COVID-19 will require the use of face coverings in places of business.

“COVID-19 is an easily transmissible, potentially fatal respiratory illness that spreads in the air through droplets from infected persons. COVID-19 is transmissible even by individuals who are not currently showing symptoms of the disease and who do not know they are infected. Use of a fabric covering over the mouth and nose, however, is an effective means of limiting the potential for transmission to others by both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with the virus.”

“…in response to the emergency, it is necessary to require face coverings in certain settings to prevent the spread of communicable disease in counties currently experiencing four or more active cases. I strongly encourage Montanans in counties with fewer than four cases to wear face coverings as well.”

The simple act of wearing a mask to protect others should not be political. Masks are designed to protect but are now being used as the latest tool for division in the political arena. Have we forgotten what ‘community’ is? Are we so divided that we can no longer hear the other side of this argument?

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We need science and we need freedom. Both can, and should exist, though lately our community seems to disagree. Many times I have seen this community come together to provide for and protect its members. I believe we can do this without letting COVID-19 divide our community.

When a case is identified in Powder River, that person will be asked to isolate themselves. At that point, we will initiate contact tracing. This is the act of finding out who has been in close contact with the positive case. Anyone who is determined to be a close contact will also be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days, and may receive testing. During this time they will monitor their health for COVID-19 symptoms. If they do not develop symptoms, they will be released from quarantine. The person who tested positive will be monitored for additional signs and symptoms and will be released depending on the course of their illness. While the virus runs its course, it may take multiple weeks before they are symptom free and able to release from isolation.

If you have questions or have been a close contact of someone whom has tested positive; Please Contact Powder River Public Health at 406-436-2297. Continue to monitor our Facebook page for the latest information and guidelines.

For more information please go to http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.