MetraPark in Billings will serve as an isolation and quarantine site for people awaiting COVID-19 testing results who have nowhere else to stay, Yellowstone County's Unified Health Command said Friday.
The site will house homeless people, victims of domestic violence and others with no place to stay. Also, healthcare professionals and experts in substance abuse will be at the shelter to help patients, acccording to the county.
It will be managed by the Continuum of Care, a coalition of service groups in the area.
John Felton, Yellowstone County health officer, said the center opened Thursday night. A "small amount" of patients are there, he said during a news conference, but he declined to provide a specific number.
The site will have FEMA grant funding and the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation has committed $50,000 in financial support.
In addition, the county is setting up a donation center at the Sandstone Building at MetraPark to collect donated items for healthcare workers.
Requested Items include:
o N95 Respirators: 1860, 8210, Inovell 3000 and 1870, 1870+, 9210, 9211, 8511Z
o Surgical masks, including ASTM Levels 1, 2, 3
o Hand sanitizer, 70% alcohol preferred
o Tyvek overalls
o Tyvek hoods
o Face shields
o Thermometers, oral (digital) and no touch
o Goggles (no splash preferred)
o Disinfectants: (Fuzion item # 31478), Caviwipes, Clorox/Lysol disinfecting wipes
o Isolation gowns (Fluid resistant)
The center will initially be open limited hours to receive donated items. Call 406.208.8154 ahead of time to schedule a drop off time. Phone:
In addition to medical supply donations, county health officials are also asking people with expertise in the healthcare field – retired doctors, nurses, social workers, administrators, medical assistants and the like to consider donating their time to our community-wide effort.
Call 406-272-8511 or go to www.YouCanVolunteer.org to be added to a list of healthcare volunteers.
Watch the full announcement here:
