Montana reports 10 new COVID-19 cases (Friday, June 12)

Montana reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Gallatin County added 6 new cases for a total of 182 total cases. Big Horn, Custer, Lake and Lewis & Clark counties all added 1 new case.

Five of the Gallatin County cases are under the age of 19.

County Gender Age Range Date Reported

• Big Horn M 30-39 06/11/2020
• Custer F 30-39 06/11/2020
• Gallatin F 10-19 06/11/2020
• Gallatin F 0-9 06/11/2020
• Gallatin M 10-19 06/11/2020
• Gallatin M 10-19 06/11/2020
• Gallatin M 10-19 06/11/2020
• Gallatin F 30-39 06/11/2020
• Lake M 80-89 06/11/2020
• Lewis and Clark M 60-69 06/11/2020

The state conducted 1,245 new tests, for a total of 57,022 to date.

Gallatin County reports several recoveries. Total Gallatin County active cases reduce from 26 - 8.
That brings the state active total down to 48 and recoveries up to 506.
Seven people are now hospitalized.

Health officials in Big Horn County announced last week the death of a resident from COVID-19. The case involved a man in his 60s and is the first death from the virus reported in Big Horn County and the 18th death statewide.

There have been six deaths in Toole County, two in Cascade County, two in Flathead County, three in Yellowstone County, and one each in Gallatin County, Lincoln County, Madison County, and Missoula County.

There have now been more than 2 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. surpassed the milestone early Thursday morning. More than 112,000 people have died in connection with the virus in the United States — all of them coming since February.

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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 hand washing 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.

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By now, most Americans have received the federal stimulus checks directed by the CARES Act in March to help consumers weather the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Three months later, the downturn has been declared an official recession and the official unemployment rate has soared into double digits, heightening calls for a second round of stimulus checks.

There's good news and bad news on the prospects for additional government assistance. The proposed $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act would authorize another round of stimulus payments for most U.S. households. While the bill was passed by the Democrat-controlled House last month, it still must get through the Republican-controlled Senate.