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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Johnson, Public Information Officer, Big Horn County (406) 679-0572 Big Horn County Confirms 9th Case of COVID-19 Six Active Cases in County HARDIN, MONTANA (May 26, 2020) – Big Horn County added one confirmed positive case of COVID- 19 today. The patient is a male in his teens. He is unassociated with any previously-known confirmed case. The eight previous cases were: • Two females in their teens • Two females in their 20’s • One female in her 50’s • One male in his teens • One male in his 30’s • One male in his 40’s Three of the earlier confirmed-positive patients have recovered. The remaining six patients, including this newly-confirmed patient, are quarantining and recovering at home. The Indian Health Service (IHS) Public Health Nursing, with assistance from the Big Horn County Public Health Department, have been tracing the contacts of this new case. As with previous cases, all close contacts will be notified, interviewed, and given instructions for further action if required. Tracking down contacts to a positive case is one of the best tools public health can use to slow the spread of the virus. If you believe you were in the presence of a recently confirmed COVID-19 case for more than five minutes, please call public health so that a nurse may interview you and determine what level of exposure you have: • IHS Public Health: (406) 638-3478 • Big Horn County Public Health: (406) 665-8720 Big Horn County would also like to remind everyone that two COVID-19 sentinel surveillance testing events will be held this week as follows: • Wednesday, May 27, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. near Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital in Crow Agency • Thursday, May 28, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Hardin High School in Hardin Everyone is encouraged to come to come to one of these event and all are welcome at either location, whether or not you are a member of the Crow Tribe of Indians. Those wishing to be tested are required to bring valid I.D. and provide a working telephone number and physical address (not P.O. Box) for follow-up with testing results. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 2 IHS Public Health Nursing and Big Horn County Public Health wish to remind all residents of Big Horn County of the best ways to prevent the transmission of this illness: stay home; wash your hands thoroughly and often; clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces and items; wear a mask when in public; stay at least six feet away from other people; and avoid travel out of the County if at all possible. And if you are feeling sick, do not go to work or leave your home; rather, contact your healthcare provider for guidance. Big Horn County is the sixth largest county in Montana, at approximately 5,023 square miles, and with a population exceeding 13,000. The local government was established January 13, 1913. Hardin is the County Seat. For more information about the County’s COVID-19 response, please visit our Facebook page at