Lake County officials released information about what steps that are being put in place to protect community health due to coronavirus concerns.
Recommended Guidance for The General Public
- Even if you are not ill, avoid visiting hospitals, long term care facilities, or nursing homes to the extent possible. If you do need to visit one of these facilities, limit your time there and keep 6 feet away from patients and employees of the facility.
- Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.
- Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid close contact with others
- Stay home if you’re sick
- Cover your cough and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe *read product label instructions for disinfection as many require surface to remain wet for a certain amount of time*
Recommended Guidance for Workplaces and Businesses
- Employers should take steps to make it more feasible for their employees to work in ways that minimize close contact with large numbers of people. Guidance for employers can be found here [cdc.gov].
Recommended Guidance for Persons Hosting Mass Gatherings and Large Community Events
- At this time, we recommend postponing or canceling mass gatherings and large community events where large numbers of people are within arm’s length of one another.
- If you can’t avoid bringing groups of people together, refer to the CDC guidance found here.
Recommended Guidance for People at Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness
- It is recommended that persons at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from crowded social gatherings of people as much as possible such as parades, conferences, sporting events, and concerts where large numbers of people are within arm’s length of one another.
- Click here for more information about peoples at higher risk for severe illness.
Recommended Guidance for People Who Are Sick
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Do not go out in public when you are sick.
- Avoid medical settings in general unless necessary.
- If you are ill in any way call your doctor's office first before going in and let them know your symptoms.
- Click here for more information on how to limit the spread of disease.
Considerations for School Closure
- Recommendations on school closure based on available science, reports from other countries and consultation with school health experts.
- At this time, the guidance from the CDC, Lake County Health Dept. and the MT Office of Public Instruction is helping Lake County school district leaders make decisions to protect students, staff and community.
- Currently, the county is instituting additional cleaning and disinfection measures in county buildings, educating and practicing health care measures of handwashing, staying home if ill, and screening for illness and travelers to hot spots.
- A school closure would have a tremendous impact on communities and the ability of the community to prepare, protect, and treat an outbreak of COVID-19.
- Click here [cdc.gov] for the most recent guidance from the CDC for schools.
