Sanders County health, school officials hope to curb COVID-19

An upward surge in COVID-19 cases in Sanders County has school officials and local healthcare providers hoping for the best and planning for the worst when it comes to the health and safety of area high school athletes and students.

During a 30-minute Zoom teleconference last week, Dr. Greg Hanson, CEO of Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, outlined the concerns that lay ahead as the winter sports seasons prepare for an already Covid-delayed start.

According to figures from the state, through Sunday, Sanders County has 48 active cases and 20 new ones. Since the pandemic began, 286 county residents have contracted the virus.

Hanson told the audience, which included three area school superintendents, of four categories of risk healthcare providers have established as guidelines to determine care options for student athletes who contract the disease.

“Why focus on student athletes?” Hanson asked the gathering. “Clearly this disease is age-related, but it does not leave the young without risk of other conditions.”

Among those potential complications related to the disease, Hanson said, are myocarditis and pericarditis, two heart-related inflammatory conditions that have been linked to COVID-19.

Those conditions in the worst case scenario, Hanson warned, can create sudden cardiac arrhythmia which can become fatal.

The goal of the meeting, he said, was to develop a plan for recognizing and treating the disease in its various forms of severity.

Among the options are the basic rules that have been put forth by the Center for Disease Control and other groups including staying home when sick, wearing masks, observing social distancing protocols when possible and frequent hand sanitizing.

“As a general rule, if folks are sick they should stay home,” Hanson said. “When possible, student athletes should bring their own sports equipment and communicate with the coaches involved if they are feeling sick.”

He said studies have shown that team practice activities have been a source of concern for spreading the virus within the team.

“We need to try to identify those at risk for arrhythmia because of the ability of Covid to cause cardiac problems, including permanent heart damage,” Hanson said. “There are some key symptoms of myocardia to watch for.”

Among those symptoms are chest pain, loss of physical tolerance, swelling of hands and feet, trouble breathing and changes in heartbeat.

Coaches, he said, are often among those who best know the athletes and what their “normal” abilities area.

Another topic of discussion focused on how and when a student/athlete who has contracted the disease can return to the activity.

The Montana High School Association requires athletes to obtain clearance from their healthcare provider before resuming sport activities. The goal of CFVH and other area healthcare entities is to develop and provide parameters by which clearance can be obtained.

“There are many factors that have to be considered, including intensity of the activity involved,” Hanson said. “There are different considerations for returning to golf as opposed to returning to football. There are also considerations for underlying health and medical conditions”.

General guidelines for return are based on the level of severity of the disease as it affects each individual, he added.

Those who test positive but are asymptomatic (showing no outward symptoms) should observe a 14-day rest period prior to returning, Hanson said. Those with mild symptoms such as less than three days of fever, should also rest for 14 days and return to activity should be on a gradual basis.

Moderate cases of the virus, typically those who have more than three days of fever and require bedrest, should rest for 28 days, with a gradual return and an EKG for those 12 years old and older.

The worst case scenario, severe bouts with the disease can often require hospitalization, ECG exams and consultation with a pediatric cardiologist. Such a level of severity would also require restrictions on exercise for a three- to six-month period.

Dr. Hanson said he had not yet heard of any cases among student athletes in Sanders County that would be classified as severe in nature.

Jon Martin, superintendent of Noxon schools and Thom Chisholm, superintendent of Plains schools, inquired about developing a form that would be used to grant healthcare provider clearance for returning athletes. MHSA has developed such a form and both superintendents urged some type of collaboration on a path to medical clearance.

“We should all be on the same page,” Chisholm said.

Rhonda Horner, principal of Noxon High, echoed those comments and spoke of her own personal experience with Covid.

“We need to get something done, basketball practice starts Monday (Dec. 7) and we may have kids playing who have had the virus,” she said. “My daughter had Covid 45 days ago and it's been a long road back. We all want a safe return for everyone and we need to be on the same page.

Dr. Hanson concluded the meeting by assuring those dialed in that work would continue to come up with a united front for the topics discussed.