Montana’s COVID enforcement page has received 1,300 complaints so far | Coronavirus

According to Murphy, over 1,300 concerns have been raised through the website. 1,000 of them were related to mask use, social distance, or cleaning and disinfection failures. Others were those who tested the site and commented on other COVID-19 issues.

Most complaints came from the counties with the highest number of COVID-19 cases — 90 percent. However, 40 of the 56 counties in Montana had at least one complaint.

“Most of the comments were very constructive. They were basically expressing concerns about their own health, the health of their customers, or the health of their colleagues. That level of concern was expressed. It was encouraging to see it. “

Complaints are sent to the local health department to determine if there is something feasible and to outreach.

Continuing breaches can trigger enforcement measures similar to those recently announced against five companies in Flathead County.

Governor Steve Bullock said these enforcement measures would be withdrawn if the company simply agreed to comply.

According to Murphy, many cases of COVID-19 date back to work. He added that following state and CDC directives is essential to reducing the number of cases and maintaining medical performance.

“Given that the current number of cases and the flu season are approaching and the hospital is already stressed, we need to do everything we can to control these numbers and bring them back to what we want. There is, “Mr. Murphy said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Montana is not just a number, said Stacy Anderson, a lead infectious disease epidemicist.

Montana has approached a total of 30,000 reports since March as of October 27. Of these, 4,000 were last week, up 17% weekly.

Anderson said the 4,000 are close to the same number living in Glendive.

“Last week, 10 counties reported more than 100 cases,” she said. “And in the last three weeks, we’ve added over 13,000 cases. This is almost the population of Big Horn County.”

She said 1200 hospitalizations in the state exceeded the population of Whitehall.

And that’s 300 dead people over the St. Regis population.

“These are all Montanan,” she said. “They are all part of our community.”

On the other hand, the increase in the number of cases is about to correspond to holidays. This creates more communicative moments, not just the flu season each year.

CDC data show that people who have both a COVID-19 infection and another virus, such as the flu, are more likely to get a serious illness. Or even death.

“We want to encourage people to be diligent and do these things safely, so we can continue to celebrate our holidays with our loved ones,” Anderson said.

She said it meant adhering to all of the frequently repeated CDC guidelines. Social distance, hand washing, masks when social distance is not possible, and perhaps more importantly, if you are in close contact with someone who is ill or tests positive for COVID-19. , Being at home. Isolate from others until cleared.

Anderson thinks of a creative way to observe celebrations like Halloween.

For example, zoom costume parades and contests. You don’t need to contact us directly as we will pack it in advance and prepare it in advance. She added that a cloth mask, not a costume mask, should be included as part of the costume.

Family groups should wait 6 feet away from each other during a trick or treat and approach only after the previous group has left. Anderson also suggested the use of hand sanitizers for disinfection between households as needed.

When you get home, wash your hands thoroughly before digging and eating snacks.

Meanwhile, state health care director Dr. Greg Holtzmann said defeating COVID-19 would be a unified community response.

“We can’t cocoon the weak. We often hear them,” he said. “We are an interdependent society.”

Young people are often hired in areas where vulnerable people must be present as well, such as nursing homes, grocery stores, and other places with necessities and services.

Although they do not tend to suffer from less serious consequences, recent CDC studies have shown that an increase in COVID-19 infection in young adults in their twenties precedes an increase in older people in the same region.

“These infectious respiratory diseases aren’t limited to just one age group. We all interact and move from one group to another,” Holtzmann said.

Holtzmann admitted that no one wanted to hurt an innocent bystander.

“But when we spread the virus to our community, some individuals will pay the final price for their health, and perhaps even their lives,” he said.

It can also set aside already lacking health care workers.

Holtzmann added that being young does not mean evidence of COVID-19. Many young people have few side effects, while others have been less fortunate.

Nationwide, there were more than 225,000 COVID-19 deaths. More than 300 people died in Montana, at least some of them under the age of 65.

Holtzmann admitted that not all deaths could be prevented.

“But we know we can do better,” he said.

Some fear that participating in the health crisis means a negative economic trade-off, but Holtzmann believes it is the exact opposite. It will be difficult to fix an economy that relies heavily on consumer-led activities without first making people feel that shopping, eating out, etc. will not expose potentially vulnerable families.

“If we all work together, we will be able to better manage this virus. We can study directly at school or university. We can open a business. We can do it with me. It can reduce the burden on our health care system, our health care system, and all health care workers who care for you and your family. “

Now, Holtzmann added, it’s a good time to remember Abraham Lincoln’s famous phrase, “We’re standing, split, we’re falling.”

“We can disagree on so many different things, but for highly contagious respiratory viruses, we all work together to follow science and protect our family, friends and communities. We need to do that, “says Holtzmann. Then you can unite around this common cause. “