Montana COVID-19 case report - Oct. 9, 2020

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show 715 additional COVID-19 cases are being reported on Friday morning in Montana.

Yellowstone County reported three additional COVID-19 related deaths on Friday while two additional deaths were reported in Flathead County on Thursday afternoon.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock issued a statement Friday about the number of COVID-19 deaths:

“On the last day of July, we had lost 60 Montanans to COVID-19. Today, barely into October, over 200 Montanans have been taken from their families, friends, and communities. That is over a 230% increase in deaths in just over two months.

“Disregarding expert advice from state and health officials, as well as the pleas of our frontline health workers and neighbors, is leading us down this concerning path.

“We need to listen to our health care workers and our local public health officials. The path forward is simple if only Montanans follow the guidelines and restrictions we have in place. This is the path that will save lives, and it will keep our schools, our main street businesses, and our communities open and safe.”

The number of reported new cases is the second-highest single-day total. The record high was set on Oct. 6 with 732 new cases.

New cases were reported Friday morning in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Powell, Ravalli, Missoula and Sanders counties.

Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County

• Yellowstone County Cases: 4,050 Total | 155 New | 1,377 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 1,817 Total | 136 New | 1,013 Active
• Gallatin County Cases: 1,792 Total | 61 New | 396 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 1,010 Total | 43 New | 568 Active
• Big Horn County Cases: 1,022 Total | 30 New | 159 Active
• Hill County Cases: 313 Total | 26 New | 125 Active
• Beaverhead County Cases: 191 Total | 25 New | 84 Active
• Roosevelt County Cases: 527 Total | 24 New | 199 Active
• Missoula County Cases: 1,257 Total | 20 New | 527 Active
• Lewis and Clark County Cases: 416 Total | 18 New | 166 Active
• Deer Lodge County Cases: 226 Total | 16 New | 96 Active
• Valley County Cases: 148 Total | 15 New | 53 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 97 Total | 14 New | 31 Active
• Wheatland County Cases: 34 Total | 12 New | 15 Active
• Ravalli County Cases: 210 Total | 11 New | 52 Active
• Silver Bow County Cases: 340 Total | 11 New | 107 Active
• Pondera County Cases: 104 Total | 10 New | 52 Active
• Stillwater County Cases: 108 Total | 9 New | 51 Active
• Lincoln County Cases: 178 Total | 8 New | 69 Active
• Carbon County Cases: 148 Total | 6 New | 22 Active
• Wibaux County Cases: 30 Total | 6 New | 21 Active
• Chouteau County Cases: 46 Total | 5 New | 13 Active
• Lake County Cases: 333 Total | 5 New | 86 Active
• Toole County Cases: 174 Total | 5 New | 64 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 112 Total | 4 New | 84 Active
• Dawson County Cases: 108 Total | 4 New | 26 Active
• Park County Cases: 136 Total | 4 New | 26 Active
• Sanders County Cases: 74 Total | 4 New | 28 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 604 Total | 3 New | 441 Active
• Jefferson County Cases: 101 Total | 3 New | 50 Active
• Carter County Cases: 11 Total | 2 New | 5 Active
• Liberty County Cases: 25 Total | 2 New | 5 Active
• McCone County Cases: 29 Total | 2 New | 2 Active
• Musselshell County Cases: 39 Total | 2 New | 3 Active
• Powell County Cases: 17 Total | 2 New | 5 Active
• Prairie County Cases: 25 Total | 2 New | 21 Active
• Richland County Cases: 143 Total | 2 New | 70 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 697 Total | 2 New | 84 Active
• Broadwater County Cases: 21 Total | 1 New | 4 Active
• Custer County Cases: 129 Total | 1 New | 14 Active
• Madison County Cases: 121 Total | 1 New | 15 Active
• Meagher County Cases: 40 Total | 1 New | 14 Active
• Powder River County Cases: 28 Total | 1 New | 8 Active
• Treasure County Cases: 9 Total | 1 New | 5 Active

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 17,399.

To date, 10,863 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 6,330.

There are currently 266 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 386,746 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

A total of 206* COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded to date in the Treasure State.

* It should be noted that local health departments often learn about results from private labs and updates their numbers before the state of Montana does, Additionally, there may also be differences in reporting criteria, so the local numbers may differ from those that appear on the Montana COVID-19 tracking map.

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.