Two employees of the Anaconda-based healthcare provider AWARE Inc. have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a press release Tuesday afternoon. No clients have been diagnosed at this time.
Those who have been identified as a close contact to a confirmed case have been contacted by the local health department, the release said.
The organization — which serves people with mental health, developmental, and other disabilities at locations throughout the state — said that it “responded immediately to this news by implementing its COVID-19 action plan.”
According to the press release, that plan “was developed months ago in preparation for this type of situation.”
Dr. John Tupper, medical director of AWARE, said the “team has done a phenomenal job of coordinating among direct care staff, community-based leadership, and on up to the CEO, to be sure our clients and staff are safe and ready for whatever comes next.”
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AWARE staff members are working closely with the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Public Health Department, Community Hospital of Anaconda, and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services as experts for guidance on COVID-19.
Leigh Ann Holmes, Anaconda-Deer Lodge public health director, said her department’s staff “are very impressed with AWARE’s prior planning and emergency measures to protect clients, staff and community at large. She added that the organization’s response to the news was “swift and thorough.”
Holmes told The Montana Standard Tuesday that AWARE’s staff has been taking “extra protective measures” to keep its work environments safe and healthy.
AWARE has quarantined many of its homes in Anaconda, the press release wrote, including several as a precautionary measure. Holmes said the service provider has six group homes in the city-county.
The organization has adjusted its staff’s work schedules to “accommodate the quarantine in efforts to protect the community by slowing the spread of the virus.” It has also notified all guardians, state and local officials about the quarantine status of each home.
According to the release, “clients and staff receive frequent health screenings and temperatures are taken multiple times a day,” and results are reported to the public health department “along with any other concerns, needs or symptomology during a daily morning phone call.”
“We are very grateful to have the support of the Anaconda community,” said Matt Bugni, chief executive officer of AWARE. “We consider ourselves fortunate to be surrounded by such a compassionate and caring group of individuals and local businesses that have offered their help.”