Montana COVID-19 case report - Nov. 4, 2020

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show 793 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Wednesday morning in Montana.

Newly confirmed cases are being reported in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli and Sanders counties.

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 35,955.

To date, 22,146 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 13,405.

There are currently 407 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 517,288 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is now at 404 according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.

Statistics gathered from local health departments by MTN News shows a total of 430 COVID-19 related deaths in Montana.

*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

• Gallatin County Cases: 3,909 Total | 166 New | 1,544 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 2,472 Total | 98 New | 1,526 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 3,847 Total | 97 New | 1,087 Active
• Missoula County Cases: 2,607 Total | 73 New | 1,128 Active
• Yellowstone County Cases: 7,327 Total | 67 New | 2,908 Active
• Big Horn County Cases: 1,478 Total | 47 New | 308 Active
• Lewis and Clark County Cases: 1,214 Total | 41 New | 936 Active
• Hill County Cases: 970 Total | 36 New | 458 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 1,069 Total | 20 New | 154 Active
• Ravalli County Cases: 595 Total | 18 New | 395 Active
• Toole County Cases: 448 Total | 18 New | 18 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 397 Total | 12 New | 142 Active
• Powell County Cases: 210 Total | 12 New | 182 Active
• Stillwater County Cases: 259 Total | 11 New | 95 Active
• Lake County Cases: 665 Total | 9 New | 234 Active
• Deer Lodge County Cases: 500 Total | 8 New | 104 Active
• Sweet Grass County Cases: 117 Total | 7 New | 42 Active
• Daniels County Cases: 55 Total | 6 New | 19 Active
• Richland County Cases: 370 Total | 5 New | 63 Active
• Carbon County Cases: 288 Total | 4 New | 51 Active
• Chouteau County Cases: 130 Total | 4 New | 60 Active
• Custer County Cases: 371 Total | 4 New | 137 Active
• Sanders County Cases: 117 Total | 4 New | 20 Active
• Sheridan County Cases: 97 Total | 4 New | 30 Active
• Lincoln County Cases: 346 Total | 3 New | 78 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 873 Total | 3 New | 155 Active
• Madison County Cases: 216 Total | 2 New | 45 Active
• Pondera County Cases: 198 Total | 2 New | 28 Active
• Prairie County Cases: 35 Total | 2 New | 2 Active
• Roosevelt County Cases: 1,045 Total | 2 New | 408 Active
• Beaverhead County Cases: 309 Total | 1 New | 38 Active
• Dawson County Cases: 297 Total | 1 New | 108 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 271 Total | 1 New | 91 Active
• Garfield County Cases: 31 Total | 1 New | 10 Active
• Park County Cases: 296 Total | 1 New | 91 Active
• Phillips County Cases: 197 Total | 1 New | 38 Active
• Teton County Cases: 95 Total | 1 New | 9 Active
• Valley County Cases: 405 Total | 1 New | 72 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.