Montana COVID-19 case report - Oct. 30, 2020

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show a single-day record of 1,063 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Friday morning in Montana.

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

The Missoula City-County Health Department confirmed a 17th COVID-19 related death late Friday morning. Lake and Lincoln counties each reported one COVID-19 related death late on Thursday.

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 31,916.

To date, 21,102 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 10,450.

There are currently 357 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 492,629 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is now at 364, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.

Statistics compiled by MTN News from local health departments show a total of 382 COVID-19 related deaths in Montana, marking an increase of 21 since Thursday.

Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County

• Yellowstone County Cases: 6,728 Total | 207 New | 2,313 Active
• Gallatin County Cases: 3,281 Total | 143 New | 962 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 2,168 Total | 142 New | 1,240 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 3,385 Total | 93 New | 668 Active
• Missoula County Cases: 2,318 Total | 90 New | 910 Active
• Lewis and Clark County Cases: 1,047 Total | 36 New | 778 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 808 Total | 36 New | 90 Active
• Powell County Cases: 168 Total | 31 New | 155 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 988 Total | 30 New | 143 Active
• Roosevelt County Cases: 955 Total | 19 New | 373 Active
• Fallon County Cases: 83 Total | 17 New | 37 Active
• Silver Bow County Cases: 599 Total | 17 New | 111 Active
• Dawson County Cases: 263 Total | 16 New | 96 Active
• Deer Lodge County Cases: 460 Total | 16 New | 173 Active
• Carbon County Cases: 258 Total | 13 New | 42 Active
• Musselshell County Cases: 124 Total | 13 New | 31 Active
• Big Horn County Cases: 1,388 Total | 12 New | 224 Active
• Valley County Cases: 369 Total | 12 New | 76 Active
• Hill County Cases: 833 Total | 10 New | 392 Active
• Stillwater County Cases: 228 Total | 10 New | 65 Active
• Phillips County Cases: 186 Total | 9 New | 34 Active
• Ravalli County Cases: 512 Total | 9 New | 319 Active
• Madison County Cases: 185 Total | 8 New | 33 Active
• Sheridan County Cases: 81 Total | 7 New | 24 Active
• Jefferson County Cases: 180 Total | 6 New | 65 Active
• Lake County Cases: 585 Total | 6 New | 201 Active
• Lincoln County Cases: 319 Total | 6 New | 96 Active
• Broadwater County Cases: 85 Total | 5 New | 62 Active
• Custer County Cases: 324 Total | 5 New | 117 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 233 Total | 5 New | 53 Active
• Sweet Grass County Cases: 92 Total | 5 New | 29 Active
• Carter County Cases: 73 Total | 4 New | 40 Active
• Chouteau County Cases: 108 Total | 4 New | 59 Active
• Park County Cases: 264 Total | 4 New | 59 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 330 Total | 3 New | 100 Active
• Richland County Cases: 341 Total | 3 New | 54 Active
• McCone County Cases: 63 Total | 2 New | 8 Active
• Meagher County Cases: 81 Total | 2 New | 17 Active
• Toole County Cases: 316 Total | 2 New | 15 Active
• Daniels County Cases: 42 Total | 1 New | 19 Active
• Garfield County Cases: 25 Total | 1 New | 4 Active
• Liberty County Cases: 32 Total | 1 New | 4 Active
• Powder River County Cases: 63 Total | 1 New | 16 Active
• Teton County Cases: 91 Total | 1 New | 9 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.