The Missoula City-County Health Department on Tuesday reported 18 additional COVID-19 cases.
There are currently 152 active cases in Missoula County with approximately 700 close contacts being monitored.
Local public health officials are reporting 639 cumulative cases* to date in Missoula County, including six epi-linked cases.**
There have been 484 recoveries and three COVID-19 related deaths to date. Additionally, five people are hospitalized in Missoula County due to COVID-19 including two county residents.
The Tuesday update from MCCHD shows six newly confirmed cases from the University of Montana. (Those numbers are included in the totals listed above)
A cumulative total of 63 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported by UM since Aug. 12. A total of 48 active cases are being reported.
MCCHD reports that data indicates cases are increasing in school-aged and college-aged individuals.
According to a news release, of 152 active cases, 43% are related to folks ages 20-29, and 23% are related to individuals ages 10-19.
Additionally, more than 50% of the currently active cases are attributed to existing COVID-19 cases, while 29% are attributed to community acquisition. Fourteen percent remain pending investigation.
Missoula became the first major city in Montana to require the wearing of face coverings on July 9.
Local public health officials have released guidelines for high school sporting events on Aug. 28.
*the Missoula City-County Health Department may be alerted to additional cases before the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.
** Cases that are “epi-linked” developed symptoms while in quarantine after being identified as close contacts to cases that tested positive.