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1. Has anyone tested positive for COVID-19 in Montana?

To date, there are confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus in Big Horn County. This is a rapidly evolving situation. If you have questions about what is happening in Big Horn County, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, you can reach us by calling 406-548-0123.

2. What is health department doing to prepare for the COVID-19 disease?

Incident command has been initiated in Big Horn County. The health department has been meeting regularly with community stakeholders to assist in the coordination of screening, diagnosis, and follow-up for the residents of Big Horn County. We have been in close contact with the city, county and state officials, and local businesses in an attempt to help mitigate to effect COVID-19 has on our community. The department has also hired additional staff for communications and response needs.

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1. How can I prevent myself and others from getting it?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The measures that you take to prevent exposure to COVID-19 are the same precautions people take for seasonal influenza. Take steps to protect yourself and others (taken from CDC COVID-19 Protect Yourself)

1. Clean your hands often
   • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
   • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
   • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
2. Avoid close contact (called social distancing)
   • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
   • Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
3. Stay home if you're sick
   • Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
4. Cover coughs and sneezes
   • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
   • Throw used tissues in the trash.
   • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
5. If you need to leave the house for medical care and you are sick, wear a facemask.
   • If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider's office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
   • If you are not sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
6. Clean and disinfect
   • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
   • If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
     • To disinfect: Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface. Options include:
       • Diluting your household bleach. To make a bleach solution, mix:
         • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water, OR
         • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
   • Follow manufacturer's instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
     • Alcohol solutions.
       • Ensure solution has at least 60% alcohol.
   • Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants.
     • Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens icon claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

2. Can wearing a mask protect me from getting COVID-19?

• If you are sick:  You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. People who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
• If you are not sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers

3. Should I make homemade sanitizer?

No. There is a lot of misleading information about making homemade hand sanitizer. Some of the recipes do not provide a high enough percentage of alcohol to be effective, while others do not take into account skin protection. Proper handwashing is still the best preventive tool. Hand sanitizers do not clean hands, and the dirtier your hands are, the less effective the hand sanitizer may be. Hand sanitizers can also be harsh on your hands, especially when made incorrectly, leading to hands that burn with subsequent hand sanitizer use. Until better guidance is provided by CDC, make hand washing the priority or use commercially-made hand sanitizer.

4. Are household cleaners and disinfectants effective against COVID-19?

Current information from the WHO and the CDC indicates that many standard household disinfectants are effective. The CDC recommends looking on disinfectants and seeing if they can "kill" SARS-like or CoV-2. It is believed that a 60% alcohol or a bleach solution of 1/3 cups per gallon of water or 4 teaspoon per quart of water will work. The bleach solution should be changed daily.

5. Should I avoid public spaces?

If you are sick, please stay home and avoid public spaces. If you are well, you should assess your own risk and practice proper precautions including social distancing. If you are over 60 years of age or have underlying health conditions, you will be at elevated risk and are encouraged to limit exposure.

6. What does isolation and quarantine mean, and when will that happen?

Quarantine is the term used for people who may have been exposed to the disease and have not yet developed symptoms. Isolation serves the same purpose as quarantine. Isolation is the term used for people diagnosed with the disease who need to limit their contact. It keeps people infected with COVID-19 away from healthy people to prevent the sickness from spreading. The health department will continue to monitor our community for cases and follow the guidance from other agencies regarding isolation and quarantine.

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1. What is the Coronavirus Disease?

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new respiratory disease that can spread from person-to-person. It was first identified in Wuhan, China. The virus that causes the disease, COVID-19, has been named SARS CoV 2.

2. Why is the disease being called Coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19?

There are many types of human coronaviruses. Four kinds of coronavirus circulate on a seasonal basis causing common cold symptoms. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a new (or novel) coronavirus (SARS CoV 2) that has not previously been seen in humans. The name of this disease was selected following the World Health Organization (WHO) best practices for naming new human infectious diseases.

3. How does it spread?

Taken from CDC COVID-19 COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Transmission is thought to occur the following ways:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs.
• It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

4. What are the symptoms?

Symptoms range from mild to severe and show 2 to 14 days after exposure. The most common symptoms are fever greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit, dry cough, muscle aches and fatigue, and shortness of breath.

5. Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
• Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

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1. I have recently traveled. Do I need to get tested or call the health department?

At the present time, you do not need to be tested unless you meet the criteria for testing. Criteria for travel-related testing: Travel to a Level 3 country in the last 14 days and symptoms.

2. My boss wants me to get tested due to recent travel in the US. Is this recommended by the health department?

No. The test is not designed to screen exposure, but to diagnose illness.

3. Is the health department currently monitoring the health of travelers who have returned from overseas?

The health department is following CDC guidance for people who have traveled to or through countries with travel advisories. People are asked to check in with the health department upon returning and receive guidance on monitoring for symptoms and whether they need to limit movement in the community.

4. Should I suspend my travel plans?

Consider the importance of your trip. You should check the CDC's travel recommendations, keeping in mind that COVID-19 is a rapidly changing situation and that advisories may change during your trip to include your destination or layover locations. When making travel decisions, you not only need to think about the risk of getting COVID-19, but also how your return travel and daily activities may be affected once you get home. If you are in the high-risk group of those over 60 years of age or those with underlying medical conditions, please reconsider all non-essential travel.

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1. What should I do if I think I have it?

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Refer to the CDC's guidance if you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might be.

2. When should someone get tested for COVID-19?

If a person believes they have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, they should call their healthcare provider for medical advice. Refer to the CDC’s guidance if you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might be.

3. Is there a vaccine or treatment for the COVID-19 disease?

Not at this time. Vaccine research is currently underway.

4. Can I be tested if I have no symptoms?

The test has been designed to diagnose the illness, not to screen for it. The test will not be not accurate unless you have symptoms.

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1. Should I stay home from work, school, or restrict my everyday activities?

If you are sick: Please stay home. If you are well and not at high-risk for COVID: Please practice social distancing, and other COVID precautions, and consider the risk to your health when making decisions. If you are well AND at high-risk for COVID: Please take additional precautions.

• Employment: Work with your employer to see if there are ways to work remotely or if they can provide other accommodation.
• School: Follow the recommendations of the school. Practice preventative measures such as social distancing and hand washing.
• Everyday activities and events: Use your judgment and assess your risk. Use online platforms and methods when possible to conduct personal business. Practice social distancing, proper hand washing, and reconsider attending functions with large groups of people. Stay connected with your friends, family, and neighbors for assistance.

2. What can I do to protect my employees in the workplace?

We encourage you to do the following:

• Review your employee illness policy to ensure that employees can stay home when sick to take care of themselves and prevent spreading illness to coworkers, customers, and clients. Ask employees to stay home if they have coughing, fever, or shortness of breath. If your policy requires a note from a medical professional, we encourage you to temporarily suspend the policy.
• Ensure that employees have a way to wash hands with soap and water at the workplace. Encourage employees to wash their hands frequently throughout the day.
• Increase cleaning and disinfection of shared areas and commonly touched surfaces, including customer areas. Many standard household disinfectants will work. Check to see if they are effective against CoV-2 or SARS-like viruses. There is also a list of EPA-registered disinfectants that will work.
• Think about essential staffing needed to continue operations in case you do have employees who call in sick.
• Think about how you can continue to serve customers and clients using online methods.
• Reconsider all non-essential travel.
• Provide employees, especially those who are high-risk, ways to telecommute or provide other reasonable accommodation.