COVID INFORMATION

COVID vaccinations (first and second doses) are available to Tribal Health eligible patients ages 5+ years. Initial COVID booster shots (a third dose) are also available for Tribal Health eligible patients over 12+ years old (5 months after the second dose for Pfizer or Moderna; and 2 months after first dose of Johnson & Johnson).

 

The easiest way to get a COVID vaccine is to walk-in to either the Polson or St. Ignatius Tribal Health Pharmacy and ask for the shot. 

 

5-11 year old Tribal Health eligible patients can also walk-in to the Ronan Health Center on Wednesdays from 1-4 pm.

Tribal Health is providing COVID testing at the Polson and St. Ignatius Health Centers.

Patients need to call Tribal Health at 406-745-3525 to schedule an appointment for COVID testing.

Patients are asked to self report a positive test to Tribal Health at 406-745-3525 and a nurse will follow up with each patient (upon request).

Testing is recommended 5 days after last exposure or if symptoms develop for close contacts.

For those times when the Tribal Health testing clinic is not available and/or after hours, Tribal Health patients will be able to utilize testing with our outside partners. 

People who are direct care eligible, Tribal Health will pay for those testing services through COVID funding. 

Tribal Health will not pay for travel-related COVID testing. Walgreens in Polson (406-300-6042) is the nearest travel-testing approved facility.

• St. Luke (Ronan) is offering curbside COVID testing services on the east side of the St. Luke Ronan Clinic (127 6th Ave. SW). Curbside drive-up testing is available via appointment by calling (406) 676-3600, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. COVID testing is available on Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on a walk-in basis at Convenient Care, located on the West side of the hospital – 107 6th Ave. SW.

• St. Joseph Medical Clinic (Polson) is offering drive through COVID testing (no provider visit).  Hours: Mon - Thur: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  Walk-in clinic COVID testing: COVID test with a provider visit, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

• Providence Grant Creek Walk-in Clinic, 3075 N Reserve St, Suite Q, Missoula, MT 59808 phone (406-327-1850), 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., seven days a week. This location does rapid testing and only symptomatic patients.

Tribal Health Pharmacies in Polson and St. Ignatius have COVID test kits available while supplies last.

Montana is offering free COVID home tests, to both tribal and non-tribal residents living within the Reservation boundaries.  One test kit is provided for each person and includes 2 tests per kit.

Distribution sites: 

Tribal Health Arlee Fitness Center

34086 Pow Wow Road

Arlee, MT 59821

(406) 726-2302 ph

Monday through Friday 8 - 4:30pm

St. Ignatius Fitness Center

240 Mountain View Drive

St. Ignatius, MT 59865

406-745-4242

Monday through Friday 8 - 4:30pm

Ronan Tribal Health Center

8 2nd Avenue SW

Ronan, MT 59864

(406) 676-0137 ph

Monday through Friday 8 - 4:30pm

Elmo Tribal Health Center

33116 US-93

Elmo, MT 59915

(406) 849-5616 ph

Monday through Friday 8 - 4:30pm

Lake County Public Health

802 Main St A, Polson, MT 59860

(406) 883-7288 ph

Tuesday 9-11 AM

Thursday 2-4 PM

For a home test:

Step 1 - Take the COVID home test

Step 2 - If you are negative, follow instructions on when to take the second test.

Step 3 - If you are still negative after second test, you can resume your normal activities, including work/school.

For a positive test (home or clinic):

Step 4 - If you are positive, regardless of where you have been tested, and you are a Tribal Health eligible patient, please go to the Tribal Health website at http://cskthealth.org/.  On the homepage, bottom right, find this image and click to fill out a form to self-report your COVID test results to BOTH Tribal Health AND the state of Montana.  

Step 5 - Fill out the Tribal Health self-reporting form.

Step 6 - Fill out the State self-reporting form.

PLEASE NOTE: COVID leave will not be granted if both forms are not filled out.      

Step 7 - If you do not have internet access, please call Tribal Health at 406-745-3525 to report a positive test result.

Click HERE for more information.

Key Messages:

• Masking is a critical public health tool for preventing spread of COVID-19, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask. 

• To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.

• Masks and respirators are effective at reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, when worn consistently and correctly.

• Some masks and respirators offer higher levels of protection than others, and some may be harder to tolerate or wear consistently than others. It is most important to wear a well-fitted mask [cdc.gov]or respirator correctly that is comfortable for you and that provides good protection.

• While all masks and respirators provide some level of protection, properly fitted respirators provide the highest level of protection. Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for certain higher risk situations, or by some people at increased risk for severe disease [cdc.gov].

• CDC’s mask recommendations [cdc.gov]provide information that people can use to improve how well their masks protect them.

What You Need to Know:

• There are two types – respirators and masks.

• Some respirators and masks are more protective and some are harder to wear consistently.

• Well-fitted respirators provide the best protection.

• Wear the highest quality respirator or mask that has the correct fit, protection, and comfort for you.

• High quality respirators are important if you are older, immunocompromised, not up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations, or in higher risk situations.

• If you are unvaccinated, wear a mask in all public indoor settings.

• If you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations, continue to wear a mask in public indoor settings where there is substantial or high community transmission.

Stay home – You will be asked to isolate yourself from others. This is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others. Your local public health department should let you know when you are cleared to return to your normal routines. Here is the CDC's recommendations for isolation. Remember that your local public health department may have more requirements.

Keep hydrated, rest, listen to your body – Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, including water, juice, and broth. Rest often, you will feel more tired than usual. Over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, can help reduce your fever and manage your symptoms, provided you don’t have a health history that prevents you from using them.

Wear a mask when around others – This is important to prevent spreading COVID-19 to other members of your household. As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. Please only leave your house if you are seeking medical treatment.

Keep in touch with your doctor – Please let your primary care physician know that you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19.They may check in with you during your illness to monitor how you’re doing at home. COVID-19 treatments are available for certain people at high risk for progression to severe disease. These medications must be administered earlyin the course of illness, so it is important to let your provider know you have tested positive and have symptoms. If you are eligible, a doctor’s order is required to access these treatments.

Here is the CDC’s list of possible treatments for those with COVID-19.

Common Questions about COVID-19

Are there medications I can take to help feel better? You may use over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better. You may also be eligible for a COVID-19 therapeutic such as monoclonal antibodies or antiviral medications.

You should talk to your physician or healthcare provider early in the course of illness to see if you are a candidate for these treatments.

You can learn more about COVID-19 Therapeutics in Montana here.

What if I’m feeling worse? Keep in contact with your primary care physician or healthcare provider. Most people with COVID-19 can be managed safely at home. If you start feeling worse or are concerned about your symptoms, do not hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. If you have any of the following emergency warning signs of COVID-19, you should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Emergency Warning

Signs of COVID-19 

Seek medical care immediately if someone has: 

• Trouble breathing

• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

• New confusion 

• Inability to wake or stay awake

• Pale, grey, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

Links you may find helpful: 

CDC – What to Do if You Are Sick 

Symptoms of COVID including Emergency Warning Signs 

10 Things You Can Do to Manage COVID at Home (CDC video) 

10 Things You Can Do to Manage Your COVID-19 Symptoms at Home – handout 

Quarantine is a strategy used to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by keeping people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 apart from others.

Who does not need to quarantine?

If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine.

• You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• You had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (meaning you tested positive using a viral test).

You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0). Get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate from other people and follow recommendations in the Isolation section below.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and subsequently recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms, you do not need to quarantine or get tested after close contact. You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0).

Who should quarantine?

If you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine if you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. This includes people who are not vaccinated.

What to do for quarantine:

• Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible.
• For 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19, watch for fever (100.4◦F or greater), cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms.
• If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation
• If you do not develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • If you test negative, you can leave your home, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public until 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • If you test positive, you should isolate for at least 5 days from the date of your positive test (if you do not have symptoms). If you do develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days from the date your symptoms began (the date the symptoms started is day 0). Follow recommendations in the isolation section below.
  • If you are unable to get a test 5 days after last close contact with someone with COVID-19, you can leave your home after day 5 if you have been without COVID-19 symptoms throughout the 5-day period. Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after your date of last close contact when around others at home and in public.
  • Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
• If possible, stay away from people you live with, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19, as well as others outside your home throughout the full 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• If you are unable to quarantine, you should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others at home and in public.
• If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to quarantine for 10 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
• See additional information about travel.
• Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until after 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.

After quarantine

• Watch for symptoms until 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• If you have symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.

Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, or wear a well-fitting mask when they need to be around others. People in isolation should stay in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom if available. Everyone who has presumed or confirmed COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons). They should wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days. People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status. This includes:

• People who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
• People with symptoms of COVID-19, including people who are awaiting test results or have not been tested. People with symptoms should isolate even if they do not know if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

What to do for isolation:

• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Wear a well-fitting mask when you need to be around other people.

Learn more about what to do if you are sick and how to notify your contacts.

Click HERE for more information.

Guidelines for domestic travel:

• Delay travel until you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation before traveling. State, tribal, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place.
• Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).
• Do not travel if you are sick, tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t ended isolation, had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and haven’t ended quarantine, or are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.
• If you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and must travel, get tested both before and after your trip.

If you are NOT up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines:

• Delay travel until you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and slow the spread of COVID-19.
• Get tested before you travel.
• Get a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.
• Isolate if you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• Follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.

Before You Travel: 

Make sure to plan ahead:

• Check the current COVID-19 situation at your destination.
• Make sure you understand and follow all state, tribal, local, and territorial travel restrictions, including proper mask wearing, proof of vaccination, testing, or quarantine requirements.
• For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check the state, tribal, local and territorial health department’s website where you are, along your route, and where you are going.
• If traveling by air, check if your airline requires any testing, vaccination, or other documents.
• Prepare to be flexible during your trip as restrictions and policies may change during your travel.

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Recommended Testing

If you are NOT up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, get tested with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.

Do NOT travel if…

• You are sick.
• You tested positive for COVID-19.
• Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.
• You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.
• You had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine.
• Do not travel until a full 5 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19. It is best to avoid travel for a full 10 days after your last exposure.
• If you must travel during days 6 through 10 after your last exposure:
• Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling. If you don’t get tested, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact with a person with COVID-19.
• Properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during days 6 through 10. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during days 6 through 10.

If you had close contact with a person with COVID-19 but are NOT recommended to quarantine...

• Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling.
• If you travel during the 10 days after your last exposure, properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during the 10 days. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during the 10 days.

Upon entering any Tribal Health facility, all patients are mandated to wear a mask, covering their nose and mouth area.  They will be screened for COVID symptoms, including a brief set of questions.  Those patients who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID will be guided to the appropriate resource for additional care.

A second COVID-19 booster (a fourth dose of vaccine) is now authorized for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 disease. A second COVID-19 booster shot may be administered to the following individuals:

• Individuals aged 12 and older with certain immunocompromising conditions** can receive a Pfizer booster at least 4 months after receipt of the first booster dose.
• Individuals aged 18 and older with certain immunocompromising conditions** can receive a Moderna booster at least 4 months after receipt of the first booster dose.
• Individuals 18-49 who are NOT moderately or severely immunocompromised AND RECEIVED JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE for BOTH their primary and booster can receive a second booster using a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after receipt of the first Janssen booster dose.
• Individuals 50 years and older can receive either mRNA vaccine at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of either mRNA vaccine.

 

Please note, Tribal Health only offers the Pfizer vaccine at the Tribal Health Pharmacy.  

 

**These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise. A list of the conditions can be found here:   People with Certain Medical Conditions | CDC