Out of extreme precaution, the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country is closed this week after a staff member was possibly exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

The closure affects summer programs offered to children. Food boxes will continue to be distributed at the club, 535 Fourth Ave., Columbia Falls, with the help of volunteers from Fresh Life and Journey churches. Pickup begins at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No registration is required and there are about 150 boxes containing fresh produce available each week.

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure families and kids are safe,” said Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country Executive Director Cindy Hooker.

Hooker said she was notified of the possible exposure Monday night.

“All of our staff are being tested today and will return to work upon receiving negative results of COVID-19,” Hooker said Tuesday. The staff includes eight people. “We expect to be contacting all of our families no later than Friday regarding the results.”

The closure comes after the club reopened on June 1 when Montana started the second phase of Gov. Steve Bullock’s plan to reopen the state. During the state’s closures, Hooker said the nonprofit was fortunate enough to continue paying its employees who worked on professional development and program planning.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness.” The virus is thought to be spread person-to-person through close contact or respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, according to the CDC.

For more information regarding the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country visit www.bgcglacier.org or www.facebook.com/BoysandGirlsClubGC.

For information regarding COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].