HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – In a conversation with New Media Broadcasters, Hill County Health Officer Kim Berg says it is encouraging that COVID case rates in the area have declined from recent peaks, but is cautioning the public to remain vigilant and take precautions.
One ongoing concern, Berg says, is that many people are declining to get tested or provide information on close contacts.
“We aren’t going to know a concrete yes or no if people are truly just refusing to test, because people are not coming in, and they are not calling. So if people are staying home when they are sick, that’s great. And they are doing what they need to be doing, I would say. If they are not going to test, stay home when you’re sick. If you are sick, don’t go to work. And ideally, we would like you to test so we have a better picture of what’s going on in our community.”
Berg says the vast majority of recent COVID cases in Montana that are being sequenced are proving to be the delta variant. No cases of the Omicron variant, which early research suggests is more easily spread but may be generally less severe, have been detected yet in Montana.
“It’s hard to say if it’s positive. Of course, having a new variant is not a positive. But we’re liking that it is showing less severe symptoms.”
Berg says 61 percent of eligible County residents have received at least one COVID vaccination, with the newly-eligible 5-11 year-old age group at 17 percent. All other age groups are above at least 50 percent.
COVID vaccines remain widely available in Hill County, and booster doses are available for anyone who has gone six months since their last Moderna or Pfizer shot or two months since the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Those interested in receiving a vaccine can contact the Health Department, Northern Montana Health Care, or numerous other local pharmacies.
Berg encourages the public to practice the prevention measures over the holiday season that have been stressed throughout the pandemic in order to help prevent another surge.
