PABLO — Gov. Steve Bullock made a stop in Pablo Thursday to view firsthand the efforts the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are undergoing to test the community for COVID-19.
The testing event marks the completion of the first round of COVID-19 community testing in Montana’s eight tribal communities. Community testing is part of the state’s plan to increase testing opportunities for vulnerable and asymptomatic Montanans.
In May, Bullock established a testing target of 60,000 tests per month.
Testing supplies were provided by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services with samples being transported by the Montana National Guard.
Bullock says increased testing is necessary to keep Montanan’s safe.
“Any one of these cars could be the start of a potential cluster, so more testing as we sort of open up things is only going to help all Montanans along the way,” said Governor Bullock.
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe officials expect more than 1,000 tests to be completed at Thursday's drive-through location.