Montana adds 306 COVID-19 cases - Sept. 28

HELENA — Newly released state numbers show five additional deaths and 306 new COVID-19 cases are being reported on Monday morning in Montana.

A COVID-19 death in Big Horn County and Yellowstone County has brought the state total to 175.

An additional 28 COVID-19 cases are being reported in Flathead County. Lake, Lincoln, Mineral and Ravalli counties were also seeing newly reported cases in the Monday report.

The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Treasure State is now at 12,413.

To date, 8,839 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana stands at 3,400.

There are currently 158 people hospitalized for COVID 19 in Montana and a total of 337,196 tests have been completed, according to the state tracking map.

A total of 175 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.

Total Confirmed, New Daily, Active Cases by County

• Yellowstone County Cases: 3,244 Total | 40 New | 943 Active
• Glacier County Cases: 315 Total | 36 New | 153 Active
• Toole County Cases: 107 Total | 31 New | 38 Active
• Roosevelt County Case: 383 Total | 29 New | 299 Active
• Flathead County Cases: 1,062 Total | 28 New | 406 Active
• Cascade County Cases: 700 Total | 23 New | 261 Active
• Hill County Cases: 173 Total | 21 New | 48 Active
• Gallatin County Cases: 1,369 Total | 15 New | 182 Active
• Big Horn County Cases: 912 Total | 11 New | 146 Active
• Silver Bow County Cases: 264 Total | 9 New | 47 Active
• Pondera County Cases: 37 Total | 8 New | 16 Active
• Rosebud County Cases: 641 Total | 6 New | 174 Active
• Jefferson County Cases: 82 Total | 5 New | 31 Active
• Blaine County Cases: 25 Total | 4 New | 9 Active
• McCone County Cases: 23 Total | 4 New | 4 Active
• Richland County Cases: 83 Total | 4 New | 10 Active
• Lincoln County Cases: 120 Total | 3 New | 17 Active
• Stillwater County Cases: 72 Total | 3 New | 31 Active
• Teton County Cases: 24 Total | 3 New | 4 Active
• Valley County Cases: 86 Total | 3 New | 29 Active
• Carbon County Cases: 118 Total | 2 New | 8 Active
• Madison County Cases: 104 Total | 2 New | 4 Active
• Mineral County Cases: 4 Total | 2 New | 2 Active
• Park County Cases: 100 Total | 2 New | 17 Active
• Prairie County Cases: 4 Total | 2 New | 3 Active
• Sweet Grass County Cases: 45 Total | 2 New | 9 Active
• Fergus County Cases: 64 Total | 1 New | 7 Active
• Lake County Cases: 277 Total | 1 New | 35 Active
• Musselshell County Cases: 36 Total | 1 New | 3 Active
• Phillips County Cases: 122 Total | 1 New | 6 Active
• Powder River County Cases: 10 Total | 1 New | 7 Active
• Ravalli County Cases: 141 Total | 1 New | 19 Active
• Sheridan County Cases: 14 Total | 1 New | 7 Active
• Wheatland County Cases: 18 Total | 1 New | 7 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.

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.