Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
To learn more about COVID-19 in Montana, and to view the COVID dashboard, please go to covid19.mt.gov
Montana Uninsured Covid Testing And Treatment Program Expiration
Addictive and Mental Disorders Division Information: COVID-19 Resources for Individuals, Families, and Providers
What is a coronavirus?
Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world. There are several types of coronaviruses including those that cause symptoms of the common cold. Human coronaviruses commonly cause mild to moderate illness. A novel, or new coronavirus is a strain of coronavirus that has not been identified before. This has happened previously with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV both of which cause more severe respiratory illnesses.
What is a novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
A diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1 is not the same as a COVID-19 diagnosis. Patients with COVID-19 will be evaluated and cared for differently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.
How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus is still being studied and public health officials are learning more each day. To date, it appears that transmission occurs via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes as is the case with other respiratory illnesses like the common cold or influenza.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. People with COVID-19 often present with cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or some combination of fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell.
How can I help protect myself and my family?
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The same preventative measures that are recommended during cold and flu season will also help to protect against COVID-19:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and often
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue (or your elbow)
- Stay home if you are sick
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Wear a mask or cloth face covering
- Montana COVID-19 Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment-Autism Treatment Services in Office Setting Approved 03-16-2021
- Montana COVID-19 Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment-COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Approved 03-16-2021
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #2 Extension through End of Public Health Emergency Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #2 Extension through End of Public Health Emergency Approved 03-11-2021
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #1 Extension through End of Public Health Emergency Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #1 Extension through End of Public Health Emergency Approved 03-10-2021
- DPHHS Medicaid Division's COVID-19 Frequently Searched Topics
- Montana COVID-19 Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment-Autism Treatment Services in Office Setting
- Montana COVID-19 Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment-COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #2 Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #2 Approved 12-03-2020
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #1 Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 Revised (Additive) Appendix K #1 Approved 12-03-2020
- Section 1135 #3 Approval Letter – Approved 11-05-2020
- Montana COVID-19 Revised Appendix K #1 - Submitted to CMS 10-16-2020
- Montana COVID-19 Revised Appendix K #2 - Submitted to CMS 10-16-2020
- Montana COVID-19 CHIP Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 CHIP Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment - Approved 07-08-2020
- Section 1135 #2 Approval Letter – Approved 06-23-2020
- Montana COVID-19 Appendix K #2 Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 Appendix K #2 Approved 6-22-2020
- Montana COVID-19 Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment - Approved 05-08-2020
- Montana COVID-19 Appendix K #1 Approval Letter
- Montana COVID-19 Appendix K #1 Approved 4-30-2020
- Section 1135 #1 Approval Letter – Approved 03-30-2020
- Section 1135 letter to CMS Director (March 26, 2020)
Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations - Interim recommendations for US community facilities with suspected/confirmed COVID-19.
FDA Guidance on Hand Sanitizer
CDC Cleaning for Schools, Workplaces, and Community Locations
CDC
Communication Resources - Videos, fact sheets and posters from the CDC.
Print Resources - Handouts and posters from the CDC.
Video Resources - Videos from the CDC.
Montana DPHHS
POSTER You Can Help Keep Illness From Spreading - 6 Tips to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness.
Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Staff Listing
To submit a question or comment to the Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program, please click on the suggestion box to access our online form.
Other Program Areas
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (HIV/STD)
The DPHHS CDEpi Section mission is to create, maintain, support, and strengthen routine surveillance and detection systems and epidemiological investigation processes, as well as to expand these systems and processes in response to incidents of public health significance.