HELENA — Gov. Steve Bullock held a COVID-19 press conference on Tuesday morning to address rising cases, National Guard response and upcoming holiday celebrations.
There are currently 10,000 active cases in Montana, with state officials noting that 4,000 of those cases reported in the last week alone.
A total of 67 Montana National Guard soldiers have been assigned to assist with the current coronavirus outbreak in the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge where they will be for the next two weeks.
The guardsmen and women have started their duties which are aimed at ensuring the operational aspects of the facility.
State officials also stressed that with the holiday season right around the corner it’s important that people follow guidelines and making plans to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
“We’re not going to take your holidays away, but we want to encourage folks to be diligent and to do these things safely so that we can still continue to celebrate the holidays with our loved ones,” said Montana Lead Epidemiologist Stacey Anderson.
People are being encouraged for Halloween to incorporate a mask into their costume, avoid large parties. Additionally, they should keep trick or treaters home if they are sick or have been asked to quarantine by their county public health officials.
Watch the full news conference below: