Montana now reporting 453 COVID-19 cases

HELENA — The Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map shows there are 453 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning.

The previously reported state total on Tuesday and Wednesday was 451 cases. The new cases were reported in Fergus and Park counties.

Fergus County Disaster & Emergency Services said in a Facebook post: "This individual is a resident of Fergus County who has been out of State for an extended period and acquired the disease out of State and has not returned to Montana. This individual will recover out of state before returning home."

State statistics show that 392 Montana residents have recovered from COVID-19 and there are currently five people hospitalized. A total of 13,914 tests have been completed, according to the tracking map.

There have been 16 COVID-19 related deaths reported to date in Montana.

Total Confirmed Cases and New Daily Cases by County

• Fergus County: 1 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
• Park County: 8 Total Cases | 1 New Cases
• Beaverhead County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Big Horn County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Broadwater County: 4 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Carbon County: 6 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Cascade County: 15 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Deer Lodge County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Flathead County: 37 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Gallatin County: 146 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Glacier County: 6 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Golden Valley County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Hill County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Jefferson County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Lake County: 5 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Lewis and Clark County: 16 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Liberty County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Lincoln County: 7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Madison County: 8 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Meagher County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Missoula County: 39 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Musselshell County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Pondera County: 2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Ravalli County: 5 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Richland County: 3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Roosevelt County: 7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Silver Bow County: 11 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Stillwater County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Toole County: 29 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Wheatland County: 1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
• Yellowstone County: 80 Total Cases | 0 New Cases

Governor Steve Bullock announced on April 22 a phased re-opening plan for Montana.

Among the highlights of the plan is that many retail businesses can become operational beginning on Monday, April 27, and restaurants, bars, casinos, and breweries can become operational beginning on Monday, May 4.

Saying the city needs more time to prepare for a phased reopening and still lacks testing materials, the Missoula City-County Health Department on Friday implemented guidelines more stringent than those issued this week by Gov. Steve Bullock in his Phase 1 plans.

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.