Montana COVID-19 Cases Spike

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    HELENA (KPAX TV) — HELENA — Montana state health officials reported 37 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday morning, the highest single-day jump in the state since the pandemic began.

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 803.

Thursday’s data shows the total number of cases in the state now stands at 802.

The state tracking map is reporting 803 cases because of a case is attributed to Jefferson County. Local health officials have said that the case was not acquired in Montana and the man has not been in contact with anyone in the state.

Several continues are reporting additional cases as of Thursday morning including Missoula, Flathead and Ravalli counties. Additionally, Granite County reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Wednesday.

Big Horn M 60-69 06/24/2020
Big Horn M 10-19 06/24/2020
Carbon M 70-79 06/24/2020
Custer M 60-69 06/24/2020
Dawson F 30-39 06/24/2020
Dawson M 60-69 06/24/2020
Dawson M 30-39 06/24/2020
Dawson M 0-9 06/24/2020
Dawson M 0-9 06/24/2020
Dawson F 10-19 06/24/2020
Flathead M 30-39 06/24/2020
Flathead F 30-39 06/24/2020
Gallatin M 20-29 06/24/2020
Gallatin M 30-39 06/24/2020
Gallatin M 10-19 06/24/2020
Gallatin F 30-39 06/24/2020
Gallatin M 0-9 06/24/2020
Gallatin M 20-29 06/24/2020
Gallatin F 50-59 06/24/2020
Granite F 50-59 06/24/2020
Missoula F 60-69 06/24/2020
Missoula M 0-9 06/24/2020
Missoula F 40-49 06/24/2020
Missoula M 20-29 06/24/2020
Ravalli F 60-69 06/24/2020
Silver Bow M 20-29 06/24/2020
Silver Bow F 20-29 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 20-29 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 20-29 06/24/2020
Yellowstone M 50-59 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 30-39 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 70-79 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 20-29 06/24/2020
Yellowstone M 20-29 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 30-39 06/24/2020
Yellowstone M 30-39 06/24/2020
Yellowstone F 20-29 06/24/2020

To date, 572 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. There are currently 15 people hospitalized and a total of 78,332 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

There are currently 207 active COVID-19 cases. There have been 21 COVID-19 related deaths to date in the Treasure State.

* It should be noted that local health departments often learn about results from private labs and updates their numbers before the state of Montana does, Additionally, there may also be differences in reporting criteria, so the local numbers may differ from those that appear on the Montana COVID-19 tracking map.

Total Confirmed Cases and New Daily Cases by County

Yellowstone County: 139 Total Cases | 10 New Cases
Gallatin County: 223 Total Cases | 7 New Cases
Dawson County: 9 Total Cases | 6 New Cases
Missoula County: 58 Total Cases | 4 New Cases
Big Horn County: 70 Total Cases | 2 New Cases
Flathead County: 51 Total Cases | 2 New Cases
Silver Bow County: 13 Total Cases | 2 New Cases
Carbon County: 16 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
Custer County: 24 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
Granite County: 1 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
Ravalli County: 18 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
Beaverhead County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Broadwater County: 5 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Cascade County: 26 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Deer Lodge County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Fergus County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Glacier County: 7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Golden Valley County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Hill County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Jefferson County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Lake County: 12 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Lewis and Clark County: 24 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Liberty County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Lincoln County: 7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Madison County: 8 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Meagher County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Musselshell County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Park County: 9 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Pondera County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Richland County: 9 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Roosevelt County: 7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Rosebud County: 10 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Stillwater County: 4 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Toole County: 31 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Treasure County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Valley County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Wheatland County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases

Although Montana has seen one of its biggest spikes in new COVID-19 recently, the Treasure State still has the lowest infection rate of any state in the lower 48 states.

Gov. Bullock also announced on June 4 that Montana will be expanding COVID-19 relief grant opportunities to help small businesses, local governments and help get more Montana meat to people’s tables.

Montana moved to “phase two” of Gov. Bullock’s “Reopening The Big Sky” plan on Monday, June 1. Bullock noted that Montana continues to have the lowest number of positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations per capita in the nation.

Bullock outlined the following indicators which prompted him – in consultation with public health officials and disaster response personnel – to move into Phase Two beginning on June 1:

A downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period.
The current ability to contact and trace, along with plans to add additional contact tracers to the existing workforce.
Ensuring that health care workers have the supplies they need to treat COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
Ramping up testing capacity to eventually meet a target of 60,000 tests a month and prioritizing testing for vulnerable Montanans and tribal communities. A total of 5,600 tests were conducted last week. Increased testing continues with sentinel testing efforts in nursing homes and assisting living facilities, testing events in tribal areas, and drive through testing being conducted at a few sites.

Here are some of the highlights of phase two:

Avoid gatherings in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. Groups larger than 50 people should be canceled unless physical distancing can be maintained. It is recommended to continue to social distance in gatherings of any size.
Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos remains in the same operations status as Phase One, but with an increase to 75% capacity.
Gyms, indoor group fitness classes, pool, and hot tubs can operate at 75% capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols.
Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines.
All businesses are required to follow the social distancing and sanitation guidelines established in Phase One, and Montanans are strongly encouraged to continue sanitation practices, including hand washing and wearing masks in public places like grocery stores.

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Mark R Thorsell
Mark.thorsell@kpax.com
4062149958