Montana COVID-19 case report - Oct. 19

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show 569 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Monday morning in Montana.

The Glacier County Health Department reported three additional COVID-19 related deaths on Monday morning. An additional death -- the eighth -- was also being reported in Missoula County. Big Hor and Lewis and Clark counties also reported a coronavirus related death.

Additional COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday morning in Flathead, Granite, Lake, Mineral, 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 23,390.

To date, 13,538 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 9,611.

There are currently 339 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 442,336 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is now at 241. Information compiled by MTN News from county health department shows the number of COVID-19 related deaths at 262.

COVID-19 statistics gathered by MTN News from county health departments shows 23,743 total cases, 8,959 active cases and 14,521 recoveries in Montana.

Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County

• Yellowstone County Cases: 5,179 Total | 111 New | 2,184 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 1,465 Total | 76 New | 695 Active
• Missoula County Cases: 1,643 Total | 62 New | 655 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 2,535 Total | 52 New | 1,377 Active
• Gallatin County Cases: 2,283 Total | 43 New | 448 Active
• Lewis and Clark County Cases: 636 Total | 30 New | 384 Active
• Lake County Cases: 451 Total | 24 New | 203 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 228 Total | 22 New | 146 Active
• Richland County Cases: 224 Total | 16 New | 151 Active
• Valley County Cases: 280 Total | 16 New | 143 Active
• Ravalli County Cases: 342 Total | 13 New | 155 Active
• Hill County Cases: 553 Total | 11 New | 284 Active
• Roosevelt County Cases: 779 Total | 11 New | 396 Active
• Park County Cases: 187 Total | 10 New | 49 Active
• Madison County Cases: 139 Total | 7 New | 17 Active
• Powell County Cases: 43 Total | 6 New | 31 Active
• Sanders County Cases: 88 Total | 6 New | 40 Active
• Silver Bow County Cases: 462 Total | 6 New | 197 Active
• Musselshell County Cases: 72 Total | 5 New | 36 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 731 Total | 5 New | 62 Active
• Golden Valley County Cases: 10 Total | 4 New | 5 Active
• Jefferson County Cases: 134 Total | 4 New | 51 Active
• Dawson County Cases: 162 Total | 3 New | 75 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 166 Total | 3 New | 50 Active
• Sweet Grass County Cases: 61 Total | 3 New | 8 Active
• Beaverhead County Cases: 233 Total | 2 New | 27 Active
• Chouteau County Cases: 56 Total | 2 New | 16 Active
• Custer County Cases: 188 Total | 2 New | 60 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 779 Total | 2 New | 594 Active
• Granite County Cases: 52 Total | 2 New | 29 Active
• McCone County Cases: 48 Total | 2 New | 11 Active
• Meagher County Cases: 51 Total | 2 New | 12 Active
• Carbon County Cases: 200 Total | 1 New | 40 Active
• Daniels County Cases: 16 Total | 1 New | 5 Active
• Judith Basin County Cases: 15 Total | 1 New | 7 Active
• Mineral County Cases: 14 Total | 1 New | 7 Active
• Toole County Cases: 301 Total | 1 New | 149 Active
• Wheatland County Cases: 61 Total | 1 New | 42 Active

Gov. Steve 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 Oct. 8 that the state will begin to publicly display information about COVID-19 hospital capacity. The snapshot report will show bed capacity, beds occupied, ventilator availability, and ICU availability.

Montana’s Nov. 3 general election likely will be conducted mostly – or, maybe entirely – through mail ballots, as Gov. Bullock gave county election officials the power to choose that option on Aug. 6.

Gov. Bullock ordered on July 15 that face masks be worn in indoor spaces in all counties in Montana with at least four active COVID-19 cases. Face masks will also be required for anyone attending outdoor gatherings with 50 or more people, Bullock said at a news conference in Helena. Click here for details on the directive.

Gov. Bullock announced a new partnership with Montana State University on July 22 to begin processing asymptomatic COVID-19 tests for Montana.

The City of Whitefish passed a resolution requiring the wearing of face masks in indoor public settings on July 14. The decision was made during a special meeting where the public was also allowed to comment on the proposal.

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 rule 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. 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.