Montana COVID-19 case report - Oct. 26, 2020

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show 622 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Monday morning in Montana.

Additional coronavirus cases are being reported in Flathead, Granite, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula and Powell counties.

A third COVID-19 related death was reported on Monday morning by Lake County Public Health.

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 28,501.

To date, 18,343 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 9,855.

There are currently 360 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 476,325 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is now at 303, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.

Statistics compiled by MTN News from county health departments show a total of 322 COVID-19 related deaths.

Numbers compiled by MTN News further show there are a total of 28,941 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Montana as well as 9,039 active cases and 19,580

Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County

• Yellowstone County Cases: 6,138 Total | 186 New | 1,914 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 3,084 Total | 70 New | 644 Active
• Gallatin County Cases: 2,896 Total | 56 New | 629 Active
• Missoula County Cases: 2,093 Total | 48 New | 921 Active
• Richland County Cases: 304 Total | 39 New | 120 Active
• Lewis and Clark County Cases: 860 Total | 29 New | 598 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 1,732 Total | 24 New | 851 Active
• Hill County Cases: 737 Total | 21 New | 376 Active
• Deer Lodge County Cases: 423 Total | 14 New | 162 Active
• Lake County Cases: 535 Total | 14 New | 253 Active
• Powell County Cases: 110 Total | 12 New | 98 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 293 Total | 10 New | 163 Active
• Dawson County Cases: 219 Total | 9 New | 95 Active
• Musselshell County Cases: 101 Total | 9 New | 53 Active
• Park County Cases: 245 Total | 9 New | 78 Active
• Big Horn County Cases: 1,338 Total | 7 New | 238 Active
• Daniels County Cases: 32 Total | 5 New | 17 Active
• Jefferson County Cases: 156 Total | 5 New | 41 Active
• Roosevelt County Cases: 903 Total | 5 New | 341 Active
• Silver Bow County Cases: 556 Total | 5 New | 189 Active
• Valley County Cases: 331 Total | 5 New | 84 Active
• Broadwater County Cases: 71 Total | 4 New | 48 Active
• Treasure County Cases: 22 Total | 4 New | 11 Active
• Chouteau County Cases: 99 Total | 3 New | 51 Active
• Custer County Cases: 277 Total | 3 New | 122 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 859 Total | 3 New | 661 Active
• Granite County Cases: 63 Total | 3 New | 23 Active
• Lincoln County Cases: 296 Total | 3 New | 96 Active
• Meagher County Cases: 69 Total | 3 New | 12 Active
• Sheridan County Cases: 66 Total | 3 New | 21 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 207 Total | 2 New | 91 Active
• Madison County Cases: 165 Total | 2 New | 22 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 751 Total | 2 New | 58 Active
• Teton County Cases: 88 Total | 2 New | 34 Active
• Wheatland County Cases: 64 Total | 2 New | 32 Active
• Phillips County Cases: 163 Total | 1 New | 21 Active

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 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.