Montana reported 29 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, June 26.
The state conducted 1,829 new tests for a total of 80,161 tests.
County Gender Age Range Date Reported
- Big Horn M 30-39 06/25/2020
- Big Horn M 0-9 06/25/2020
- Flathead M 50-59 06/25/2020
- Gallatin M 10-19 06/25/2020
- Gallatin F 40-49 06/25/2020
- Gallatin F 50-59 06/25/2020
- Gallatin F 0-9 06/25/2020
- Gallatin M 50-59 06/25/2020
- Gallatin M 20-29 06/25/2020
- Gallatin M 50-59 06/25/2020
- Gallatin M 10-19 06/25/2020
- Gallatin F 20-29 06/25/2020
- Missoula M 30-39 06/25/2020
- Missoula F 30-39 06/25/2020
- Missoula M 50-59 06/25/2020
- Missoula F 10-19 06/25/2020
- Missoula M 10-19 06/25/2020
- Ravalli M 60-69 06/25/2020
- Ravalli F 50-59 06/25/2020
- Ravalli F 20-29 06/25/2020
- Ravalli F 60-69 06/25/2020
- Richland M 0-9 06/25/2020
- Roosevelt F 40-49 06/25/2020
- Yellowstone M 60-69 06/25/2020
- Yellowstone F 20-29 06/25/2020
- Yellowstone M 30-39 06/25/2020
- Yellowstone M 30-39 06/25/2020
- Yellowstone F 20-29 06/25/2020
- Yellowstone M 60-69 06/25/2020
There are 14 active hospitalizations.
The state reports there are a reported 218 active cases with 589 people listed as recovered.
The number of deaths remains at 22. There have been six deaths in Toole County, three in Yellowstone County, two in Cascade County, and two in Flathead County. The other deaths have been reported in Big Horn, Gallatin, Lincoln, Madison, and Missoula counties.
Governor Steve Bullock today issued the following statement regarding the death of a Montanan due to COVID-19, the state’s 22nd death.
“I am sad to hear of another Montanan lost to COVID-19 and I am holding their loved ones and community in my thoughts. Each loss is a sobering reminder that this virus is still here and of the duty we all have. We cannot be passive. Each of us must take actions that mitigate the spread of this virus to protect our fellow Montanans.”
Notification of the death was provided by Rosebud County Health Department.
Although the state is reporting 829 total cases, MTN does not include one case counted in Jefferson County that was traced to a resident of the county who was out of state and did not contract the virus in Montana.
As with previous reporting of COVID-19 cases, the lack of specific information about cases - such as where a patient lives or works, or where the person may have traveled - has some people upset, but the disclosure of patient information is regulated at both the federal and the state level. Click here to read more about privacy regulations and what can/can't be released.
Custer County health officials said Thursday they are "strongly recommending" the county return to phase one of the governor's reopening plan for two weeks because of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
Moving back to phase one means reducing capacity in bars and restaurants back to 50 percent, reducing the size of a larger gathering, including athletic and community events and assemblies, and other restrictions.
As of Sunday, the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the United States stands at 119,728, according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins University. The database shows more than 2.25 million total cases in the U.S.
- Gov. Bullock says no change in state restrictions as spike in COVID-19 cases emerge
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- Coronavirus surge in states that rushed to reopen is hurting economic growth
- As coronavirus sweeps through India's capital, experts say plans to stop it are "a waste of time"
Contact tracing has helped Montana health officials connect clusters of COVID-19 cases, including in Big Horn and Yellowstone counties, Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday at the Capitol in Helena.
Bullock said while Montana has seen a recent increase in cases, the state has the third-lowest per capita in the country.
He also said it's important to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"Learning more about the virus and how it interacts in our communities is certainly critical as we move forward in navigating these times," Bullock said. "And it's also important to underscore that even if a community or a county is free of the virus today, this does not mean that Montanans can let their guard down."
A county in Washington state has run out of hospital beds because of a recent spike in coronavirus cases — and now, Washington Governor Jay Inslee says the entire state is going to take a more aggressive approach to handling the pandemic. Everyone in the state, minus a few exceptions, will now have to wear a face mask and will be charged with a misdemeanor crime if they fail to do so.
REOPENING THE BIG SKY, PHASE TWO
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 handwashing and wearing masks in public places like grocery stores.
The Rebound
The Rebound: Montana brings you stories to help navigate these uncertain times caused by the coronavirus pandemic — from getting back to work to making ends meet — along with tips on how to manage the pressure and a look at how those in the community continue to step up.
