By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Hill County Health Board met online on Friday afternoon to discuss their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Officer Jessica Sheehy defended the County ordering golf courses closed for another two weeks, saying that they want people to remain at home as much as possible.
“My hope is that if we can maintain our current levels, on (April 24th), these directives won’t have to be extended. At this point, I’m considering our one case to be a sign that we’re doing things appropriately. And while they seem aggressive or unnecessary to some, I think they’re showing that our measures are working.”
County Commissioner Diane McLean argued that some of the County’s measures have been too aggressive.
“I think that we’re being terribly draconian in the whole thing, overextending to the point of generating a lot of fear, a lot of unnecessary turmoil.”
As of Friday evening, 38 COVID-19 tests have been conducted on Hill County residents. The one resident that tested positive has since recovered, while one test is pending.
No businesses or residents have been issued a citation for violating any of the various state and county orders, as all issues have been addressed without official action needing to be taken.
The criteria for a recovered patient is someone that passes the 14-day quarantine without symptoms. Unlike other states, Montanans are not being retested before being declared recovered.
