COVID-19 community impact

 

March 27, 2020

Local health officials directed the closure of Ekalaka businesses last week as another aggressive step to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The move came prior to a state mandate from Gov. Steve Bullock last Friday that directed all bars and restaurants, gyms, theaters and casinos to close.

"Both young and older Montanans, in urban and rural communities, have tested positive for coronavirus, making it even more clear that this virus impacts us all and that these actions are imperative to protecting our friends and neighbors," Bullock said in a statement.

The directive requires all restaurants to close their dine-in services, along with bars, breweries and distilleries. Cigar bars, casinos, health clubs, pools and recreational facilities are also covered by the directive.

The order was originally set to expire on March 27, the same day the closure of all K-12 public schools was set to lift, but Bullock acknowledged at the time it was likely that both would be extended.

On Tuesday, Bullock extended his orders until at least April 10, including the closure of public schools.

"The obligation to control this spread is on each and every one of us, each and every day," Bullock said on a call with several newspaper reporters Tuesday.

Bullock also issued a directive Tuesday prohibiting nonessential social and recreational gatherings of individuals outside a home or place of residence of greater than 10 people with a distance of at least 6 feet between individuals. This more restrictive order and the orders mentioned can be enforced by county attorneys, he said.

More local impacts caused by COVID-19 follow.

SCHOOL

Ekalaka Public Schools is currently moving forward with plans for distance learning. Over the last two weeks, teachers have provided supplemental learning options for students online.

District bus drivers will be delivering learning materials to homes at the end of this week including books, workbooks, Chromebooks and folders. Grades K-3 will be receiving supplemental work in folders while grades 4-12 will be studying online using the Google Classroom learning platform, which allows students to receive assignments and turn in assignments without returning to the building. Teachers will be working from home and available via email, by phone, or video conferencing using Google Meets during school hours.

COUNTY

County commissioners announced this week that offices will remain closed to customer traffic until further notice to limit exposure of the virus to both staff and the public. The courthouse, museum, conservation district, weed department, and road/bridge department are closed until further notice.

Services are still available on a daily basis by calling the proper department from the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone numbers are listed as follows.

• County Attorney (406) 778-2422

• Clerk of Court/Supt of Schools (406) 775-8714

• Clerk and Recorder (406) 775-8749

• Disaster & Emergency Services (406) 975-6416

• Elections (406) 775-8749

• Accounting Department (406) 775-8749

• Justice of the Peace (406) 775-8754

• Treasurer (406) 775-8735

• Motor Vehicle Department (406) 775-8735

• Payroll (406) 775-8735

• Public Health (406) 775-6332

• Road/Bridge (406) 975-6251

• Sanitarian (406) 436-2077

• Senior Citizens (406) 775-8751

• Sheriff/Coroner (406) 775-8743

• Weed (406) 975-9791

Montana has a primary election on June 2. Several candidates have called for a vote-by-mail election. Bullock said Tuesday he would make a decision about any possible changes to that election soon. Information for local voters, including options on how to register while the courthouse is closed, can be found on the back page of this issue.

HOSPITAL

Dahl Memorial Healthcare remains closed to the public. All persons will continue to be screened prior to entrance into the facility. The hospital is also eagerly searching for certified nurses aides.

"As we have read and listened to the news, the healthcare system may potentially become overwhelmed with COVID-19, not to mention the daily maintenance of the health of the community," Dahl CEO Ryan Tooke wrote in a letter. "With that being said, I am inviting you to consider becoming a certified nurses aide."

Bullock said the state is also seeking to increase its inventory of critical medical supplies and that the state got an additional 50,000 N-95 masks through an agreement with North Dakota. The masks will be distributed all across the state. He also issued orders Monday that should open up options for hospitals to increase their capacity in the event of a surge of patients.

BUSINESSES

Wagon Wheel Cafe is offering curbside pickup and delivery. Stompin' Grounds Coffee Shop has curbside or window pickup and delivery and Dawg House Pub can do takeout, delivery and off-sale. Arrangements can also be made via phone with Fruit Service and Repair, Inc. and A & A Stieg Wholesale for customers to get what they need. Shopping and dining locally has perhaps never been more important.

Lobbies at Summit National Bank and Community 1st Federal Credit Union are also closed, but business can still be conducted via phone and each institution's drop boxes and online services.

Bullock also made emergency changes to the state's unemployment program this week by waiving certain requirements around benefits, including a waiver to the typical one-week period before unemployment benefits begin.

The new rules allow an individual who was directed by their employer to leave work or not report to work due to the virus to qualify as being temporarily laid off, making them eligible for benefits.

Workers who must quarantine or who need to take care of a family member due to coronavirus will also be considered temporarily laid off and eligible for benefits under the new rules.

Bullock said that since March 16, more than 15,000 people had filed unemployment claims in the state.

OTHER LOCAL CANCELLATIONS

The county-wide spelling bee has been canceled.

Ekalaka Town Council will not meet until further notice. The public hearing scheduled for April 1 regarding the Preliminary Engineering Report that was prepared for the town's water system has also been canceled.

As of Wednesday morning, Montana had 53 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The closest counties in the state with reported cases are Yellowstone (8) and Roosevelt (1). Dunn County in western North Dakota and Meade County, South Dakota each had one confirmed case as of Wednesday morning. The case in Meade County is a Monument Health caregiver in Rapid City.

 

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