Havre, Montana – Northern Montana Health Care (NMHC) is making the following recommendation to the county regarding the COVID-19 crisis. DUE TO THE EXTREME LACK OF TESTING IN THE STATE, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE TESTED FOR COVID-19 AT THIS TIME. Quarantining and social distancing are our best preventive measures.
The most important action people should take at this time if they feel that they are experiencing symptoms or may have been exposed to someone who is ill is to self-isolate. Quarantining yourself and any exposed family members at your home will help to reduce the spread of this illness.
Furthermore, limit your interaction with others and try to conserve on your trips to stores and businesses. Households that contain elderly family members should especially be conscious of limiting their exposure.
Again, NMHC is asking the public to use the Emergency Department at Northern Montana Hospital for life threatening conditions only. If a person is experiencing a fever, dry cough, sore throat, stomach issues or nasal secretions, you are advised to treat your symptoms with Tylenol, Motrin and over-the-counter cold medicines. If you are unable to manage your symptoms at home, your first contact with healthcare professionals should be by phone. Patients who feel that they may need to be assessed by a healthcare professional are asked to please report to the parking lot of the clinic at 124 13th Street and then to call (406) 262-1570.
More information about COVID-19 can be found at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.