COVID Safety

COVID Safety

The Covid pandemic has slowed, but still shows a peak every winter with many hospitalizations and deaths due to Covid. Fortunately our gathering will be at the time of year which in 2023 had the lowest numbers of these events. It’s hard to predict what the numbers will look like in July 2024, but at this time they continue to trend downward.


This spring the CDC released new recommendations for how the general population should respond to symptoms of any upper respiratory infection ( see below). For our gathering, in order to protect those at risk for more severe Covid illness, we strongly recommend: :

  1. Up-to-date vaccinations for all of us attending. This means a primary vaccination series and at least one additional dose in fall of ’23. For those of us over 65, the CDC also recommends a vaccine dose this spring. Vaccination for flu and RSV will provide further protection.
  2. Consider whether you can avoid large groups or mask in public for a week or more before coming.
  3. Test before leaving home, and please isolate at home if your test is positive, even if you have no symptoms or your symptoms are mild. Your registration fees will be refunded if you’re unable to attend.
  4. Consider rapid testing on arrival at Annual Session if your last test was 24 hours prior. A testing table and tests will be provided when you arrive to register.
  5. If you develop respiratory symptoms while at annual session, test as soon as possible, mask and if Covid positive, isolate for at least 5 days. Let our Health Coordinator (Judy Visscher, MD) know if you test positive for Covid- she will help arrange meal delivery to you if you’re staying on campus.
  6. If you have respiratory symptoms but test negative for Covid, please mask to protect others from your illness.
  7. If you know you’ve been closely exposed to someone with Covid or who developed Covid after your contact, test and continue to mask for at least 5 days (Covid’s incubation period can be as long as 14 days, but most commonly is 3-5 days, depending on the variant).
  8. Masks are optional this year.  Consider masking in large groups if you are (or someone close to you is) at higher than average risk for severe illness with a case of Covid.  High-quality masks will be available at the NPYM office.  Higher risk can be due to lack of adequate vaccination, age (under 4 or over 50, with increasing risk after age 65), an immune-compromising health condition or medication, or other chronic health conditions. 
  9. If at higher risk, if your test is positive, consider contacting a prescribing health professional for       an antiviral medication within the first 5 days of symptoms.
  10. Practice good hand hygiene.
  11. Maintain ventilation when possible in meeting spaces or meet outside.
  12. Use outdoor eating facilities if possible and especially if masking or at risk.


Remember that these precautions will not only protect you, but will also protect those among

us who are at risk for more severe illness. We will cultivate a milieu of support for those who

are masking whether for their own protection or that of others. Tests will be available at the time of arrival and throughout Annual Session. Please keep a high level of awareness of symptoms and test if you feel sick.


Thank you for doing all you can to keep this gathering healthy and safe for all of us.


Urgent care centers in Missoula:

  • Western MT Clinic Now Care at Southgate Mall on Brooks St. Ph: 406 721-0918
  • Providence Urgent Care on Grant St Ph:406 327-1750
  • Community First Care Brooks St Ph:406 493-3110
  • CostCare South Russell St Ph:406 728- 5841

Emergency Rooms:

  • Emergency or after hours: Call 911 for emergencies
  • Community Medical Center Ph: 406 728-4100
  • St Pat’s/Providence Medical Center Ph: 406 543-7271


The CDC now recommends:

  • Updated vaccinations for everyone eligible, including for RSV and flu.
  • Make note of any one of these symptoms: fever, upper respiratory congestion, sore throat,

cough, shortness of breath, as well as muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.These

symptoms could be caused by Covid, flu, RSV or a number of other viruses.

  • With symptoms, begin masking, limit close contact and make efforts to improve ventilation

and hand hygiene. If your illness is mild, mask for 5 days from onset of symptoms.

  • If your symptoms are moderate/severe or you have a fever or a Covid test is positive,

isolate from others and end isolation only if symptoms are mild and steadily improving for 24

hours. If you have had a fever, it must have been gone for 24 hours (without the help of fever

reducing medications). Once you have ended isolation, mask for another 5 days.



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