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Mineral County Health Department provides Covid tests, vaccines

| January 31, 2022 12:00 AM

Mineral County Health Department will be visiting communities this month to provide COVID-19 vaccines/boosters and free rapid antigen COVID-19 home testing kits provided by the state health department.

These tests have a window of about five days where they will detect a COVID-19 infection. Sometimes taking the test too soon after symptoms start will show a negative result even if the person has Covid, and if the person has been sick for more than a week the test may not give a positive result. Antigen tests are designed to detect a specific immune response from your body to an infection. Call the health department if you have any questions about the best time to take a Covid test.

Mineral Community Hospital offers Covid testing Monday through Friday from 9-11 a.m. at 405 Brooklyn Ave. in Superior. They offer PCR and rapid antigen testing. A PCR test can detect a current Covid infection, or a recent Covid-19 infection. This type of test detects viral RNA and results are very dependable. You may call the health department to ask which type of test might be best for your current situation.

To report a positive COVID-19 test result, please go to hometest.mt.gov The Mineral County Health Department will receive the information you report and follow up with you to see if you have any questions. If you choose not to report your results please refer to the following recommendations:

-Notify your health care provider of your result and notify your close contacts

-Stay home for at least 5 days after your symptoms started

-You may return to work/school after 5 days IF

-you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without taking a fever-reducing medication AND you have only mild symptoms and are feeling better AND you wear a well-fitting mask for the next 5 days.

-CDC recommendations for people exposed to a positive COVID-19 case are as follows:

-Fully vaccinated people should wear a well-fitting mask and monitor for symptoms for 10 days after their last known exposure.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people should quarantine for 5 days after their last known exposure, and wear a well-fitting mask from days 5-10 in public.

Household members will have continued exposure to a household case for at least 5 days after that person developed symptoms. Their last date of exposure will be the last date of the positive case’s isolation period.

Free COVID-19 tests and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will be available to the public on the following days and times (For Superior go to www.mtreadyclinic.org and search for clinics by zip code 59872):

Tuesday, Feb. 8

Noon-1:30 p.m. DeBorgia: Post Office Parking Lot

2-3 p.m. St. Regis: Community Center Parking Lot

4-5 p.m. Alberton: Community Center Parking Lot

Tuesday, Feb. 15

Noon-1 p.m. Alberton: Community Center Parking Lot

2-3 p.m. St. Regis: Community Center Parking Lot

3:30-5 p.m. Deborgia: Schoolhouse Parking Lot

Tuesday Feb. 22

12-1 p.m. St. Regis: Community Center Parking Lot

1:30-3 p.m. Haugan: Silver Dollar Parking Lot

4:30-5:30 p.m. Alberton: Community Center Parking Lot