Montana COVID-19 case report - Oct. 29, 2020

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show 891 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Thursday morning in Montana.

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

An additional death was also reported Thursday morning in Flathead County, bringing the total to 27.

The Thursday report shows newly confirmed coronavirus cases in Flathead, Granite, Lake, Lincoln Missoula, Powell and Ravalli counties.

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 30,853.

To date, 20,042 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 10,474.

There are currently 373 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 484,470 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is now at 337, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.

Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County

• Yellowstone County Cases: 6,521 Total | 165 New | 2,107 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 2,027 Total | 119 New | 1,123 Active
• Gallatin County Cases: 3,137 Total | 102 New | 846 Active
• Missoula County Cases: 2,229 Total | 67 New | 822 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 3,291 Total | 50 New | 579 Active
• Lewis and Clark County Cases: 1,011 Total | 41 New | 743 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 964 Total | 34 New | 571 Active
• Ravalli County Cases: 503 Total | 28 New | 314 Active
• Powell County Cases: 137 Total | 26 New | 124 Active
• Lake County Cases: 579 Total | 20 New | 294 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 326 Total | 18 New | 156 Active
• Custer County Cases: 319 Total | 18 New | 117 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 228 Total | 17 New | 112 Active
• Valley County Cases: 358 Total | 15 New | 74 Active
• Big Horn County Cases: 1,376 Total | 14 New | 212 Active
• Park County Cases: 260 Total | 13 New | 55 Active
• Dawson County Cases: 247 Total | 12 New | 80 Active
• Deer Lodge County Cases: 444 Total | 11 New | 157 Active
• Hill County Cases: 823 Total | 10 New | 400 Active
• Silver Bow County Cases: 582 Total | 8 New | 204 Active
• Stillwater County Cases: 218 Total | 8 New | 90 Active
• Lincoln County Cases: 313 Total | 7 New | 90 Active
• Madison County Cases: 177 Total | 7 New | 28 Active
• Phillips County Cases: 177 Total | 7 New | 29 Active
• Richland County Cases: 338 Total | 7 New | 78 Active
• Jefferson County Cases: 174 Total | 6 New | 59 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 772 Total | 6 New | 70 Active
• Beaverhead County Cases: 280 Total | 5 New | 31 Active
• Carbon County Cases: 245 Total | 5 New | 34 Active
• Daniels County Cases: 41 Total | 5 New | 21 Active
• Pondera County Cases: 184 Total | 5 New | 37 Active
• Sweet Grass County Cases: 87 Total | 5 New | 24 Active
• Fallon County Cases: 67 Total | 4 New | 21 Active
• Broadwater County Cases: 80 Total | 3 New | 57 Active
• Carter County Cases: 69 Total | 3 New | 39 Active
• Chouteau County Cases: 105 Total | 3 New | 57 Active
• Powder River County Cases: 62 Total | 3 New | 16 Active
• Toole County Cases: 314 Total | 3 New | 16 Active
• Treasure County Cases: 24 Total | 2 New | 11 Active
• Wheatland County Cases: 69 Total | 2 New | 35 Active
• Wibaux County Cases: 44 Total | 2 New | 4 Active
• Garfield County Cases: 24 Total | 1 New | 3 Active
• Granite County Cases: 67 Total | 1 New | 27 Active
• Judith Basin County Cases: 15 Total | 1 New | 4 Active
• Musselshell County Cases: 111 Total | 1 New | 55 Active
• Teton County Cases: 90 Total | 1 New | 22 Active

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 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.