COVID-19 in Lewis and Clark County
Lewis and Clark Public Health (LCPH) has activated its emergency response team and is working daily to respond to COVID-19 in Lewis and Clark County. We are also working closely with local health-care providers to detect and investigate cases of the disease.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that originated in China in late 2019 and has since spread throughout the world. The disease can have mild to severe symptoms, including fever, cough, and trouble breathing. It can also be fatal, especially among people age 65 and older and people with serious, existing health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease.
Vaccine Distribution - Phase 1b, Tier 1 - FIRST SHOT Clinics 1/26 and 1/27
Please read this information carefully!
We thank every member of the community for their patience as Lewis and Clark Public Health, along with our partners at St. Peters Health and PureView, work to make sure our COVID-19 vaccination rollout remains safe, efficient and transparent.
The local team will continue first-dose vaccination for individuals in Phase 1b, Tier 1 and those eligible in Phase 1a next week. Phase 1b, Tier 1 includes all Lewis and Clark County residents aged 70 and over. Pre-registration will be required for all community members in these phases and tiers. Age and residency verification are required at the event.
The team will hold two drive-thru clinics next week on Tuesday, Jan. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 1-6 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds. These clinics will serve 450 individuals per day. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Persons aged 16-69 with risk conditions DO NOT qualify for the clinics next week.
To better serve the community and efficiently distribute vaccination, those in Phase 1b, Tier 1 and Phase 1a wishing to attend a clinic, must secure a FREE, TIMED ticket to either event and provide a photo ID for proof of age showing an address in Lewis and Clark county. If the photo ID provided does not have an address, such as a US Passport, individuals can present a utility bill, phone bill, or another document with a Lewis and Clark County address.
You can secure up to two tickets per registration. Individuals can reserve tickets based on availability of time slots. There are NO promo codes for this event. At 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Jan. 22, tickets will automatically be available for reservation. Registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
There will be many opportunities and clinics in the future as we receive more vaccine.
Time slots that are full will have a 'sold out' message. We expect the 900 tickets (450 per day) to go quickly. Due to the nature of the reservation system, and the extreme demand, not all individuals will be able to get a ticket. For those unfamiliar with the Eventbrite site, a ‘How-To’ video can be found on our COVID-19 Hub at www.helenamontanamaps.org/LCPHCovid19HUB/ below the registration links. We are working on a version of this video with voice instructions for those with accessibility issues, please be patient.
PLEASE NOTE: Signing up for a user account on Eventbrite DOES NOT sign you up for a ticket. You must come back to the site when tickets are available tomorrow.
The registration site for the clinics are hosted on Eventbrite. Links to either day events can be found on our COVID-19 Hub at www.helenamontanamaps.org/LCPHCovid19HUB/, or on Lewis and Clark Public Health’s website at www.lccountymt.gov/health and look for the ‘COVID-19 Hub’ link on the main page.
FREE tickets will be available for both days beginning this Friday, Jan. 22 at 9:00 a.m. Again, we expect these tickets to go very quickly.
If you have a parent or grandparent who might have difficulty signing up for this event due to an accessibly issue, please help us get them the info from this post. You may assist them in signing up, but please make sure they understand the required proof of age and address and any other vital information prior to arrival.
Seniors who prefer to speak with someone can call Rocky Mountain Development Council Area IV Agency on Aging, which has graciously volunteered to provide seniors who have access barriers to the online ticketing system with a call center at 406-447-1680. Please note: This call center is NOT for the general public, but for those 70+ who have access barriers to using the Eventbrite website. The call center will operate beginning Friday at 9 a.m. ****This line is NOT open for the general public, but for those seniors needing extra assistance!****
The county will continue to roll out Phase 1b vaccination eligibility by tiered priority within the population. More details on additional clinics and any changes to priority populations will be released later. There will be multiple opportunities each week to be vaccinated until we complete the Phase. Please be patient as we ramp up our efforts.
Vaccine Distribution - Phase 1a SECOND DOSE CLINIC ONLY - Jan. 28/29
For those in Vaccination Phase 1a who received their first dose at either of our drive-thru clinics on December 29 or 30, you are eligible to receive your SECOND DOSE at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds on January 28 or 29 anytime from 1-6 p.m.
You MUST BRING YOUR VACCINATION RECORD CARD (VRC) – this is your ticket to your SECOND DOSE.
No other paperwork (other than your VRC) is required. Pre-registration is NOT required – simply show up either Jan. 28 or Jan. 29 from 1 - 6 p.m. with your card.
Please DO NOT come to this clinic if you are looking for your first dose, this is a SECOND DOSE EVENT ONLY. This is NOT open to anyone in Phase 1a who has not gotten their first dose, nor ANYONE from any other phases or tiers. This is only open for those in Phase 1a who received their first dose at our drive-thru clinics on Dec. 29 or 30, 2020.
If you are in Phase 1a and haven’t received your first dose, we will be holding additional clinics for those in Phase 1b, Tier 1 and Phase 1a later.
Please stay tuned and thank you for your patience.
Vaccine Distribution - Phase 1b Tiers Defined
The following Tiers have been established for Phase 1b vaccine administration. We are currently in Phase 1b, Tier 1 – all Lewis and Clark County residents aged 70+. We will move the community into Tier 2 when COVID-19 vaccine is available, and at the conclusion of Tier 1 currently being served.
There will be four drive-thru vaccination clinics held next week at the fairgrounds—Two clinics for those in Phase 1b, Tier 1 (70+) and those eligible for Phase 1a, will be held on Tuesday, January 26th and Wednesday, January 27th (tickets will be required, more info to come), and two clinics on Thursday, January 28th, and Friday, January 29th for those in Phase 1a who received their first doses on December 29th and 30th. More information will be released to the public as soon as we get confirmation of number of vaccines available.
Thank you for your patience as we work to vaccinate the community.
**High-risk (MT DPHHS): Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Cancer, Chronic kidney disease (CKD), Serious heart conditions such as heart failure, Coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies, Down syndrome, Sickle cell disease, Type 1 and 2 diabetes and Severe Obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m2).
Vaccine Distribution - Phase 1b, Tier 1 Information
We thank every member of the community for their patience as Lewis and Clark Public Health, along with our partners at St. Peters Health and PureView, work to make sure our COVID-19 vaccination rollout remains safe, efficient and transparent.
As you can imagine, there are a number of challenges in vaccinating about 20,000 individuals in Phases 1a and 1b. Phase 1b includes a very large number of eligible individuals, and because current weekly local vaccine allocation is limited, we will roll out Phase 1b vaccination eligibility by tiered priority within the population.
Starting Tuesday, Jan. 19, we’ll begin first dose vaccinations for Phase 1b, Tier 1 individuals, which includes all Lewis and Clark County residents aged 70 and over, and eligible healthcare workers from Phase 1a. Pre-registration will be required for all community members in these phases and tiers.
To kick things off, we will hold two first dose drive-thru clinics next week on Jan. 19 and 20 at the county fairgrounds, which will vaccinate up to a maximum of 900 individuals from Phase 1b, Tier 1 and Phase 1a.
To better serve the community and efficiently distribute vaccination, those in Phase 1b, Tier 1 and Phase 1a wishing to attend a clinic, must secure a free, timed ticket to either event and provide a photo ID for proof of age showing an address in Lewis and Clark county. If the photo ID provided does not have an address, such as a US Passport, individuals can present a utility bill, phone bill, or another document with a Lewis and Clark County address.
There is a limit of one ticket per person and tickets cannot be traded. Individuals can reserve tickets based on availability of time slots. There are NO promo codes for this event. At 9:00 a.m. tickets will automatically be available for reservation.
PLEASE NOTE: Signing up for a user account on Eventbrite DOES NOT sign you up for a ticket. You must come back to the site when tickets are available tomorrow.
The registration site for the clinics are hosted on Eventbrite. Links to either day events can be found on our COVID-19 Hub at www.helenamontanamaps.org/LCPHCovid19HUB/, or on Lewis and Clark Public Health’s website at www.lccountymt.gov/health.html and look for the ‘COVID-19 Hub’ link on the main page. Free tickets will be available for both days beginning this Friday, Jan. 15 at 9:00 a.m. We expect these tickets to go fairly quickly.
Registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be many opportunities and clinics in the future as we receive more vaccine.
This is the first in a series of vaccination clinics aimed at the Phase 1b population in the county. There will be multiple opportunities each week to be vaccinated until we complete the Phase. Please be patient as we ramp up our efforts.
For those Phase 1a individuals who have already received their first dose, please stay tuned for more information regarding your upcoming clinics, including location, times and dates. We are also planning mobile clinics for those individuals who may not be able to travel to the fairgrounds.
If you have a parent or grandparent who might have difficulty signing up for this event due to an accessibly issue, please help us get them the info from this post. You may assist them in signing up, but please make sure they understand the required proof of age and address and any other vital information prior to arrival.
Seniors who prefer to speak with someone can call Rocky Mountain Development Council Area IV Agency on Aging has graciously volunteered to provide seniors who have access barriers to the online ticketing system with a call center at 406-447-1680. Please note: This call center is NOT for the general public, but for those 70+ who have access barriers to using the Eventbrite website. The call center will operate beginning Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The county will continue to roll out Phase 1b vaccination eligibility by tiered priority within the population. More details on additional clinics and any changes to priority populations will be released later.
Vaccine Distribution - Phase 1b Information
Lewis and Clark County COVID-19 vaccinations are currently in Phase 1a, which includes all licensed healthcare workers, their support staff, and those professionals in behavioral and mental health professions. For those in Phase 1a, please watch Facebook and our Twitter @LewisClarkPH for information on our next vaccination clinic.
Our Local COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Team, which includes representatives from local health organizations, such as St. Peter’s Health and PureView, has worked tirelessly to ensure a safe, efficient and transparent vaccination to the community. Based on the success of this collaboration, the team continues to move quickly through Phase 1a.
There is currently no vaccine available from the state to move from Phase 1a to Phase 1b, so we will continue to focus on Phase 1a individuals at this time. However, please understand that our current local vaccine supply is limited.
The local vaccination team is working with state officials to advocate for the community and and secure vaccine, so we can begin Phase 1b.
Based on new guidance from the state released Jan. 5, the local vaccination team is working on logistics for Phase 1b, which is expected to begin the week of Jan. 18, depending on vaccine supply. Phase 1b will include adults aged 70 years and older, those aged 16 to 69 with high-risk medical conditions, and American Indians and other people of color who may be at an elevated risk for COVID-19 complications. Details on those individuals covered in vaccination Phase 1b, as provided by the state, are reflected in the graphic below. Information is subject to change.
Phase 1b includes a very large number of eligible individuals, and because current weekly local vaccine allocation is limited, it is likely we will need to roll out Phase 1b vaccination eligibility by tiered priority within the eligible population. More detailed information on Phases 1b and 1c can be found at our local COVID-19 Hub at arcg.is/14qeG00.
As soon as dates, locations, times and any required documents are finalized for Phase 1b clinics, we will inform all members of our community via traditional media outlets, as well as through social media on our Facebook page, our Twitter @LewisClarkPH, the Hub and our website.
Please note: Phase 1a eligible individuals will be eligible for vaccine during Phase 1b (must provide photo ID and proof of employment documentation).
Vaccine Distribution - Phase 1a Information
Lewis and Clark Public Health is the coordinating entity for distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccine in Lewis and Clark County. We’ve formed a Local COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Team, which includes representatives from local health organizations and pharmacies. Our mission is to ensure smooth, transparent, and efficient vaccination to the community.
We are now in Phase 1a of our vaccination efforts, which includes medical providers who have direct contact with patients, all local medical and support staff at eligible medical entities, and long-term care facility staff and residents.
At this time, vaccination is not available to the general public or those individuals not specified in Phase 1a.
Phase 1b, which encompasses teachers, first responders, school employees, individuals involved in food production, grocery store workers, adults 75 years and older and other high-risk groups, is expected to begin in mid-January, 2021. Point of distribution (POD) locations, timings, and more details on priority populations to be served within each phase of vaccine distribution, will be released by LCPH as soon as it becomes available.
Lewis and Clark Public Health thanks everyone in the community for their patience and continued diligence (wearing a mask, hand washing, physically distancing, staying home when sick) as we work to distribute vaccine to our community.
 | Global/US Case Map |  | Montana/County Case Map |  | By the Numbers |  | Incident Action Plan |
What You Can Do to Avoid COVID-19
Distance Yourself from Others
"Social distancing" is one of the most effective strategies you can use to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Social distancing means avoiding crowded places and keeping a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
Other examples of social distancing are:
- Working from home instead of at the office
- Closing schools or switching to online classes
- Visiting loved ones by electronic devices instead of in person
- Cancelling or postponing conferences and large meetings
With COVID-19, the goal of social distancing is to slow down the spread of the disease in order to reduce the chance of infection among high-risk populations and to reduce the burden on health-care systems and workers. Now is not the time for hugs and handshakes.
History indicates that these measures work. A 2007 study found that, during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, cities that used several interventions at an early phase of the pandemic—like closing schools and banning public gatherings—had significantly lower death rates.
Practice Good Personal Hygiene
Everyday precautions that can help prevent the spread of flu and other germs are also effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;
- If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- Stay home when you’re sick;
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash; and
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated. EPA-Approved Disinfectants
Use Appropriate Face Coverings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that the general public wear cloth face coverings – not surgical masks or N-95 respirators – in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (like grocery stores and pharmacies).
But the CDC warns that face coverings should not give anyone a false sense of security! Social distancing and hand washing are still very important protective measures and should be continued.
You can use bandanas or scarves to cover your face. If you want to make a homemade face mask, there are lots of patterns and instructions out there. Here are 2 that are recommended by reliable sources:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html
St. Peter’s Health: https://www.sphealth.org/sites/default/files/making%20a%20basic%20mask%204.6..20.pdf?1586198571129
Surgical masks and N-95 respirators should be reserved for people who show symptoms of COVID-19 and for health workers and others who are taking care of patients at home. People who are in direct contact with people who are infected must change their masks repeatedly.
Here's how to wear a cloth face covering
Here's where to get face coverings
If You Think You Have COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever over 100 degrees F, cough, and difficulty breathing. If you have mild symptoms, stay home if possible and contact your medical provider by phone for guidance. Your provider will make sure you don’t expose others in the office or hospital setting. He or she will also work with public health professionals to determine if you need to be tested.
If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, seek care immediately. Let the 9-1-1 dispatcher know that you might have COVID-19.
Older patients and people who have underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems should contact their physician early in the course of even mild illness.
Questions or concerns? Call the state hotline at 1-888-333-0461 For complaints about any of the Governor's COVID-19 directives within Lewis and Clark County, call 406-457-8886 |
