Health Dept Changing the Way They Report COVID-19 Cases
With six new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Monday in Gallatin County and three more on Tuesday, the Gallatin-City Health Department announced a change in how they will report these moving forward.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the department stated that as more tests and results are reported, they will no longer be routinely providing details about each individual case unless they see an immediate public health need.
You can, however, still get some of that information by clicking here.
The Health Department states that they "understand this is a change in procedure, but as cases continue to be confirmed in Gallatin County, we want to ensure accuracy. Our goal is to provide the community with consistent and accurate information in a way that is sustainable. This situation is evolving and we’re trying to evolve with it. Our community's health is our top priority and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the safety and well-being of our County."
Some local COVID-19 cases that have come in are a close contact to a known case. The Health Department says they expect future cases to consist of community transmission, close contact, and travel related history.
“This is all part of our effort to identify contacts," says Matt Kelley, Health Officer for the Gallatin City-County Health Department. " All identified close contacts are instructed to self-quarantine. If close contacts develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 they are encouraged to contact their primary care provider.:
The Health Department continues to ask residents to:
- Limit contact with groups of people, whether you’re sick or not and maintaining social distancing when in public as much as possible.
- Stay at home whenever possible, except for your essential needs.
- Self-isolate when you are sick, even with mild symptoms.
- Frequently washing your hands with soap and water, and regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
- Work from home if possible.
- Self-quarantine for 14 days if you’ve recently returned home from international travel.
The GCCHD Call Center is open seven days a week for questions about COVID-19 at 406-548-0123. The most accurate local source of information remains the GCCHD website HealthyGallatin.org.