GREAT FALLS — Trisha Gardner, the health officer of the City-County Health Department in Great Falls, said on Thursday that her initial public health order of March 20th has been extended in the county through 11:59 p.m. on April 10th.
The order is intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the community. As of Friday morning (March 27), there are six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cascade County. The COVID-19 cases in Cascade County are two women in their 20s; one man in his 30s; and one woman and two men in their 50s. Across Montana, the total is 108 cases, and there has been one death.
The new CCHD order now includes salons, tattoo parlors, and several other types of business that are now closed to "ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public."
The order includes the following:
- all body art, tattoo, and piercing establishments
- all hair, nail, and cosmetic salons/studios
- all hair, nail, and cosmetic schools/training facilities
- all spa and massage services, except those massage services contained within state-licenses physical therapy or chiropractic services
Many people have asked MTN why so little information is being released about COVID-19 patients. Gardner told KRTV on Friday that federal privacy laws such as HIPAA prevent them from disclosing where they live, locations they've visited, and other details.
The CCHD says that if you are identified as a potential contact of any confirmed cases, or if they learn you could have been exposed, a public health nurse will contact you and let you know what to do. Most of the time, close contacts are identified and contacted within hours. If you have any specific reason to think you have been infected, call the CCHD at 406-454-6950 or visit the website.
You can also call one of the following healthcare organizations with questions or concerns about COVID-19:
- Alluvion - 454-6973 (M-F 7am-6pm; Sat/Sun 8am-3pm)
- Benefis - 455-2500 (7 days a week, 7am-7pm)
- Great Falls Clinic - 454-7275
As of Friday morning (March 27), there are 108 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Montana.
Here is a list of counties that have reported at least two confirmed cases: Gallatin 39; Yellowstone 20; Missoula 8; Butte-Silver Bow 8; Lewis & Clark 8; Flathead 6; Cascade 6; Madison 2; Broadwater 2; Toole 2.
Officials in Montana are keeping a list of confirmed cases in the Treasure State on an updated map and website - click here to visit the site. There have now been seven hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in Montana, according to the state Coronavirus Task Force. The DPHHS public health lab in Helena has completed more than 2,680 tests for COVID-19.
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CONTINUING COVERAGE:
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- Businesses trying to keep the doors open in Great Falls
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- Why COVID-19 is causing more concern than the flu
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