Blaine County Health Department: COVID -19 Update - Phase One
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The Blaine County Health Department, the Board of Health (consisting of the three Blaine County commissioners and two appointed community members), and the Health Officer are acutely aware of the public health emergency that is ongoing with pandemic COVID-19.
Our priority is the health and safety of people who live and work in our county. We recognize that county healthcare providers have seen fewer patients over the last two weeks with upper respiratory symptoms. We also recognize that providers in Blaine County have the capacity to test symptomatic individuals at this point. Further, Blaine County has zero cases of detected COVID-19, and Montana as a state has one of the lowest reported infection rates per capita compared to other US states and territories.
With these considerations in mind, and with the support by vote of the Blaine County Board of Health, the Health Officer in Blaine County has developed a Health Order that Blaine County entities will implement the Governor’s Plan for Phased Re-opening of the State.
This phased plan and the associated directive has detailed information for multiple groups, entities, businesses and interests. The full plan can be found at https://covid19.mt.gov/joint-information-center.
On Saturday, April 25th, 2020 the attached Health Order will become effective. The movement between phases will be directed by the Governor’s Task Force and announced as data coming into the state from our local and tribal health jurisdictions continue to inform decisions.
The Blaine County Health Department would like to express our gratitude to county residents for doing your part to prioritize the health of Blaine County.
The Blaine County Health Department will continue to conduct surveillance for COVID-19 symptomology throughout our county, advocate for access to testing for Blaine County residents, and plan for case investigation and contact tracing. If it appears through this work that the phased approach is counterproductive to the goal of flattening the curve of the inevitable effects of this pandemic, the Health Officer retains authority pursuant to Montana Code Annotated § 50-2-118 and the guidance in the Governor’s current directive to take steps to protect the public health from imminent threats by implementing a health order more stringent that the Governor’s directive.
The Health Order is attached. Questions and concerns can be directed to the Blaine County COVID-19 Incident Command team at bchd@blainecounty-mt.gov.
ORDER OF BLAINE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus a pandemic;
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020, the Blaine County Health Officer issued an Order establishing the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus as a public health emergency and took action to avert and minimize the outbreak of this communicable disease;
WHEREAS, Montana’s response to COVID-19 has been necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the efforts have been effective. Montana’s health care system has not been overwhelmed and Montana now has one of the lowest per capita rates of infection in the United States.
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2020, the Governor of the State of Montana, has issued a directive modifying implementation of Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing guidance for the phased reopening of Montana and establishing conditions for Phase One implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 providing measure to stay at home and designating certain essential functions;
WHEREAS, the Blaine County Board of Health has determined the potential spread of COVID-19 continues to constitute a public health emergency and actions must be taken to avert and minimize the outbreak of this communicable disease;
WHEREAS, the Blaine County Board of Health has determined in order to enforce the intent of the directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 providing measure to stay at home and designating certain essential functions, which includes ensuring the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Montana Code Annotated § 50-2-118, a local health officer in carrying out the purpose of the public health system shall take steps to limit contact between people in order to protect the public health from imminent threats, including but not limited to ordering the closure of buildings or facilities where people congregate and cancelling events;
WHEREAS, the Blaine County Board of Health has determined the local health officer should institute her authority to close buildings and facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within Blaine County, Montana;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, the April 22, 2020 Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing guidance for the phased reopening of Montana and establishing conditions for Phase One is a Public Health Order of Blaine County.
This Order is effective at 12:01 a.m. April 25, 2020 and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on June 26, 2020, or until further action of the Blaine County Health Officer.
Jessica Sheehy PA-C
HEALTH OFFICER FOR BLAINE COUNTY, MONTANA
