THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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Madison County COVID & Vaccination Update

From Feb. 14-Feb.21, 14 new coronavirus cases were reported in Madison County. Forty-five residents have been quarantined in the last seven days and there has been one new hospitalization.

Madison County’s new positive cases have been relatively consistent in the teens and twenties, Madison County Public Health Nurse Melissa Brummell said. She looks forward to the day when the county is out of the double digits. Madison County still has a lot of disease load, she said, “a little bit all over.”

Madison County’s 60-day mask mandate remains in effect until mid-March. The Madison County Public Health Department (MCPHD) will meet March 16 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss mask policies moving forward.

“It’s a great time for the community to come provide their input,” Brummell said.

From the top down, jurisdictions can enforce stricter rules regarding masks, but not the opposite. Gov. Greg Gianforte rescinded the mask mandate, but Madison County can enforce firmer regulations if deemed necessary. School boards, if the county decided to follow the governor’s new mandate, may require masks in their districts if desired.

The Sheridan School board voted late last week to lift the mask mandate in Sheridan Schools. Brummell said that MCPHD reached out with information regarding current local policies after hearing about the decision.

“Sometimes people just don’t really know the laws and the rules and the regulations, so we always start with the education piece,” she said.

This week, Montana will receive 20,930 COVID-19 vaccinations first doses and 16,990 second doses. Madison County will receive 200 doses this week.

Brummell explained the vaccine schedule is off a bit due to winter storms. Some vaccinations from last week will arrive this week, but the 400 doses allotted to the county over the past two weeks will reach their destinations once shipping is sorted out. This will be a ‘big dent in the waitlist,’ Brummell said.

She encouraged individuals currently in Phase 1B to get on the waitlist if they are looking to be vaccinated. Before moving into Phase 1C, all Montana counties must be close in terms of the quantity of 1B residents vaccinated before switching phases.

“It’s nice to start seeing some forward progress,” Brummell said.

For Big Sky residents on the Madison County side, 30 doses will be administered by Madison Valley Medical Center (MVMC) staff at the Summit Hotel on March 2, 16, 30 and April 13 and 27.

Individuals must call 406-682- 4223 to be added to the waitlist for the clinics, and MVMC will contact patients to schedule appointments. Documentation will be required for proof of Madison County residency.

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The Madisonian

65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
www.madisoniannews.com

Cori Koenig, editor: editor@madisoniannews.com
Susanne Hill, billing: s.hill@madisoniannews.com 
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