Newly released state numbers show an additional 869 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Monday in Montana.
Newly confirmed cases are being reported in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula and Ravalli counties.
Yellowstone, Gallatin, Cascade, Flathead, Lewis and Clark, and Missoula counties are seeing the most newly confirmed cases as of Monday afternoon.
The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 48,027.
To date, 27,496 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 20,009 which is up from the 19,166 reported on Sunday.
There are currently 453 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana, up from the 435 reported on Sunday.
A total of 573,334 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.
The cumulative number of deaths in Montana has risen from 520 to 522 according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.
*Numbers reported by the state each day occasionally differ from those reported by county public health departments due to periodic lag times in reporting data to the state.
Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County
- Yellowstone County Cases: 9,187 Total | 241 New | 4,784 Active
- Gallatin County Cases: 5,842 Total | 198 New | 1,452 Active
- Cascade County Cases: 3,632 Total | 66 New | 2,899 Active
- Flathead County Cases: 5,112 Total | 65 New | 1,723 Active
- Lewis and Clark County Cases: 1,850 Total | 65 New | 860 Active
- Missoula County Cases: 3,537 Total | 55 New | 2,165 Active
- Fergus County Cases: 450 Total | 28 New | 370 Active
- Ravalli County Cases: 792 Total | 18 New | 288 Active
- Lincoln County Cases: 570 Total | 15 New | 231 Active
- Lake County Cases: 829 Total | 12 New | 310 Active
- Big Horn County Cases: 1,649 Total | 11 New | 672 Active
- Sheridan County Cases: 211 Total | 10 New | 89 Active
- Carbon County Cases: 480 Total | 9 New | 131 Active
- Hill County Cases: 1,151 Total | 9 New | 388 Active
- Park County Cases: 465 Total | 9 New | 207 Active
- Richland County Cases: 481 Total | 9 New | 238 Active
- Valley County Cases: 497 Total | 8 New | 74 Active
- Madison County Cases: 332 Total | 7 New | 94 Active
- Silver Bow County Cases: 1,218 Total | 7 New | 597 Active
- Beaverhead County Cases: 451 Total | 6 New | 114 Active
- Garfield County Cases: 49 Total | 5 New | 19 Active
- Roosevelt County Cases: 1,135 Total | 4 New | 510 Active
- Phillips County Cases: 229 Total | 3 New | 34 Active
- Pondera County Cases: 236 Total | 2 New | 38 Active
- Toole County Cases: 568 Total | 2 New | 62 Active
- Deer Lodge County Cases: 604 Total | 1 New | 80 Active
- Golden Valley County Cases: 21 Total | 1 New | 17 Active
- Jefferson County Cases: 311 Total | 1 New | 102 Active
- Sweet Grass County Cases: 187 Total | 1 New | 56 Active
- Teton County Cases: 135 Total | 1 New | 26 Active
CONTEXT: Not every person who tests positive actually becomes ill or exhibits symptoms. Many do not; of those who do become sick, some experience mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization. Others, however, do require hospitalization, as noted in the daily update on the number of people hospitalized. However, every person who tests positive for COVID-19 has the potential to spread the virus to other people, including family members and friends, which is why public health officials continue to encourage everyone to wear a mask and maintain at least the recommended six feet of "social distance" when in public.
The federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) released data in late August which emphasizes that people with contributing or underlying medical conditions are at much greater risk of dying from COVID-19. Click here to read more. The CDC also recently released an update to their research into fatality rates associated with COVID-19. A summary of COVID-19 survival rates is shown below; the summary is one of five based on several scenarios. The CDC data and scenarios can be found here.
Missoula County officials announced tighter COVID-19 restrictions on Oct. 27 due to a continued surge in cases. The new rules take effect at 8 a.m. on Oct. 29 and will be reassessed on Nov. 12. Business capacity will be limited to 50%, group sizes will be reduced to 25, and alcohol service at bars will end at 10 p.m.
Gov. Steve Bullock discussed measures that can be taken to make sure that more businesses comply with COVID-19 related health orders on Oct. 22, saying both state and federal resources are being provided to assist counties that need help enforcing mandates.
Gov. Bullock ordered all Montana public and private school buildings to require face masks, in counties with four or more active COVID-19 cases on Aug. 12. He added that “encouraging” face masks at re-opened schools won’t be enough.
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.
Gov. 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.