109 additional COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths reported in Montana

HELENA — Montana state health officials reported 109 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday morning, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.

An additional two COVID-19 related deaths in Montana are also being reported. The two new deaths were reported in Yellowstone County and are related to the outbreak at a Billings care facility.

Gov. Steve Bullock today issued the following statement regarding the deaths of two more Montanans due to COVID-19, marking 34 deaths in Montana.

“I share the grief of Montanans mourning the continued losses of our own from COVID-19 and stress that the dangers of this virus to our most vulnerable make it all the more important that we work harder to protect one another. As we stand with the community and comfort the loved ones of these Montanans, we cannot become complacent in the fight against COVID-19.”

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 1,952.

Tuesday's data shows the total number of cases in the state now stands at 2,038.

The state tracking map is reporting 1,952 cases due in part to differences in reporting by county health departments which often receive information on confirmed COVID-19 cases before state officials.

To date, 1,035 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19.

An additional 27 COVID-19 cases are being reported in Lake County. Meanwhile, Lake County Public Health reports there are now 60 active cases in the Mission Valley.

Several additional confirmedCOVID-19 cases have been reported in Lincoln County -- with most tied to a cluster found in Libby.

Nine additional COVID-19 cases are being reported in Flathead County. The state tracking map also shows that Sanders County has now logged its first three COVID-19 cases.

There are currently 29 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 121,396 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

There are currently 969 active COVID-19 cases. There have been 34 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: 557 Total Cases | 32 New Cases
• Lake County: 80 Total Cases | 27 New Cases
• Gallatin County: 417 Total Cases | 13 New Cases
• Flathead County: 84 Total Cases | 9 New Cases
• Lewis and Clark County: 57 Total Cases | 8 New Cases
• Lincoln County: 40 Total Cases | 7 New Cases
• Park County: 20 Total Cases | 3 New Cases
• Sanders County: 3 Total Cases | 3 New Cases
• Big Horn County: 121 Total Cases | 2 New Cases
• Jefferson County: 12 Total Cases | 2 New Cases
• Missoula County: 125 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
• Ravalli County: 45 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
• Wibaux County: 1 Total Cases | 1 New Cases

• Beaverhead County: 5 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Broadwater County: 9 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Carbon County: 34 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Cascade County: 50 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Custer County: 38 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Dawson County: 8 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Deer Lodge County: 6 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Fallon County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Fergus County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Garfield County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Glacier County: 28 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Golden Valley County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Granite County: 6 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Hill County: 14 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Liberty County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Madison County: 34 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Meagher County: 4 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Musselshell County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Pondera County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Richland County: 30 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Roosevelt County: 9 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Rosebud County: 14 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Sheridan County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Silver Bow County: 25 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Stillwater County: 9 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Teton County: 15 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Toole County: 31 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Treasure County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Valley County: 4 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Wheatland County:
• 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases

Missoula became the first major city in Montana to require the wearing of face coverings while inside in a public setting on July 9. The requires people over the age of 12 to wear face masks while inside in a public setting. Missoula County is the second county in the state to issue a mask mandate with Big Horn County being the first.

Gov. Steve Bullock said on July 2 the worst may not be over – and urged Montanans to take precautions and wear face-masks in public. He stopped short of requiring face-masks in public, saying he wants it to become “socially acceptable."

Gov. Bullock 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.

We know the COVID-19 pandemic is changing our community. To keep you and your family informed as we move forward, we're beginning a new series of reports. They are stories that will help all of us navigate through these uncertain times. In the coming weeks and months, we'll be focusing on “The Rebound: Montana.”

It is a series of reports, videos, and information that show our commitment to stories that will help you as our communities begin to rebound - from what you'll need to know when it's time to go back to work, to how those in the community continue to step up and help others.