Public Health Officials are urging residents not to use rapid COVID-19 tests due to serious flaws that could hinder data collection of the disease and provide false results. The Food and Drug Administration has not authorized any test available to purchase for testing at home for COVID-19.
Great Falls – College Creating masks on 3D Printers
Great Falls College is in the testing phase to create masks for health care workers on 3D printers at Weaver Library on campus. The college has been in contact with Benefis Health System and Great Falls Clinic which both seem interested in seeing the mask.
Helena – Public Health Lab Running 300 Covid-19 Tests Daily
The state’s public health laboratory ran 2,193 tests by Wednesday evening and is currently running more than 300 a day submitted from all over the state. The number of test kits in the state is hard to quantify because health care providers are constantly using what’s available but 3,000 test kits from the CDC were received last week.
Montana – Governor Directs Schools to Submit Remote Learning Plans
Governor Steve Bullock directed school districts to submit plans to implement remote learning, school meals services for students with disabilities, and other services customarily provided to students. The Great Falls Public Schools Board of Trustees has agreed to submit the District’s plan of action to the Governor’s office this Friday.
Kalispell – Public Transportation Changes
Flathead County residents can expect changes to local public transportation now through April 13th due to a shortage of drivers the department is experiencing amid the coronavirus outbreak. All Eagle Transit Kalispell City and Tri-City Commuter routes have been canceled.
Montana – Governor Bullock Empowers Local Election Officials on Primary Elections
Governor Steve Bullock told counties Wednesday they can choose to conduct an all-mail election in the June 2nd primary. Bullock said he made the decision in consultation with Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, County Election Administrators, Public Health Experts, Emergency Management Professionals, and Political Leaders from both parties.
Montana – Foundation Awarding Grants in Response to COVID-19
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has awarded $450,000 to 86 organizations that provide basic needs to our communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants in varying amounts will be distributed to community net safety programs statewide. For More Information Visit: The Dennis and Phyllis Foundation Website
Montana – Governor Requests Waiver for Medicare
Governor Steve Bullock has requested a waiver from the federal government to streamline frontline health care providers’ ability to access much-needed health services available through Medicare Medicaid and CHIP to respond to COVID-19. The waiver will give Montana the regulatory flexibility to implement changes to expand capacity as needed to ...
Kalispell – Residents Taking Advantage of Social Distancing to Complete Fuel-Reducitons
Flathead Valley residents are taking advantage of spring open burning season to get outside and practice social-distancing with COVID-19 in mind. They are completing annual fuels-reduction work around their homes and property burning branches and making progress with cleanup. Multiple widespread high wind events over the past winter resulted ...
Montana – AG Tim Fox Urges Online Businesses to Monitor Price Gouging
Attorney General Tim Fox and other attorneys general urged Amazon Facebook eBay Walmart and Craigslist to more rigorously monitor price gouging practices by online sellers using their services. Anyone with coronavirus-related consumer complaints should call the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection.