Jamestown  (CSi)  Central Valley Health District, Administrator, Robin Iszler has received a number of calls at the office, from residents with concerns and questions about COVID-19, especially in light of a Stutsman County resident, who tested positive  for the virus.

On a recent Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Robin and host Wayne Byers addressed the Frequently Asked Questions.

He is a list of the Q&A’s address on the show.

Q:  I was in a business and now I heard someone tested positive what do I do? 

A:  A close contact to a positive case will be notified.  Close contact is defined within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer.   If you are a close contact someone from the Health Department will reach out to you.  You can continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, wear a cloth mask, monitor your symptoms and stay home when you are sick.

 

Q:  Should I wear a mask in public?

A:  CDC is now recommending that people wear homemade masks in public when they are out getting supplies etc.  Instructions for homemade mask are at centralvalleyhealth.org  which is  Central Valley’s website under Hot Topics or JRMC’s Website.  Masks should be washed upon return to home and a clean/new mask worn next time you go out.

 

Q:  Should I wear gloves?

A:  Vinyl, rubber or plastic gloves are not necessary – WASH your hands or use hand sanitizer when you are out in public and upon return home.  Don’t touch your face with dirty hands or dirty gloves.  Gloves can give you a false sense of security – WASH your hands often.

 

Q:  Where was the positive case located?

A:  Any information on a positive case is confidential including the exact city and address.  Only county level data will be shared.  Those who are close contacts will be notified and provided information on what to do next.

 

Q:  Can we gather in the community?

A:  Do not gather in groups of more than 10.   You also need to stay at least 6 feet apart in distance and limit your interaction to 15 minutes or less.  Gathering in cars can also impose risk if you leave your car, open the windows or have interaction.  When you are walking or biking in the community do not gather in groups or stop to visit.  This increases your chance for exposure.

 

Q:  What If I have questions on COVID?

A:  you can call the state hotline at 1-866-207-2880 for general questions on COVID.  For medical questions contact your medical provider.

 

Q:  I want to know if I have the Coronavirus!

A:  If you have respiratory symptoms – like fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath contact your provider.   People who do not have symptoms will not be tested.

 

Q:  What if I was in contact with someone who is a close contact?

A:  There is nothing they need to do.  You can monitor your symptoms but can continue go to work and grocery store.   Close Contacts are those who came in contact with a positive person and they will be instructed what to do next.

 

Q: I have deep concerns with the low rate of testing done in Stutsman County.  We are one of the more populous counties, and yet, have one of the lowest rates of testing.  The virus is in our county.  These people are just not being tested.  It gives our residents a false sense of security.

 

A: Thank you for your concern.

Stutsman County is actually on par with the rest of the state with regard to testing. As you can see in the chart, Stutsman County has completed 7.34 tests/1,000 residents. We’re testing at almost twice the rate of our neighboring counties. You’ll notice an increase in the southwest because of the Operation Drive-in pilot project.

 

Our providers use the following guidelines from the North Dakota Department of Health to determine who should be tested:

Clinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. As supplies allow, health care providers should not turn patients away for COVID-19 testing who have upper or lower respiratory illness.

Clinicians should consider testing any patient TWO or more of the following signs/symptoms of respiratory illness with new or worsening onset:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • runny nose
  • sore throat
  • chills
  • myalgia
  • fatigue
  • headache
  • loss of taste and/or smell

Asymptomatic patients, even close contacts to COVID-19 cases, should not be tested for COVID-19

Also on our show, Robin said CVHD does NOT conduct COVID-19 testing.  Contact your healthcare provider for more information, on their testing availability.

Central Valley Health is closed to walk-ins.  They can be reached by phone by calling 701-252-8130.

On line www.centralvalleyhealth.org