According to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map, Montana reports 456 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, May 6 , 2020.
The state reported 632 new tests conducted for a total of 19,704 total. 417 Montanans have recovered from Covid-19 and 6 remain hospitalized at this time.
The jump in testing numbers was explained by the state: "COVID-19 testing was initially available solely through the CDC. COVID-19 PCR testing capability was implemented by the Montana Public Health Laboratory (MTPHL) on March 9. Private laboratories began implementing COVID-19 testing in the weeks following and Montana has added those private lab tests to our testing data published online. Private laboratories include reference laboratories and those in smaller hospital labs performing point-of-care testing."
The state has adjusted the total number of cases from 457 to 456 as of Tuesday morning.
"Users may notice that the overall COVID case number has decreased by one since yesterday's report. After a thorough public health investigation, Montana public health officials have determined that a case thought to be from Fergus County is not a resident of Montana and the patient has not been in Montana for nearly a year. Since this case poses no known risk to residents of Montana, it has been removed from the count."
There have been 16 deaths in Montana to date. There have been six deaths in Toole County, two in Cascade County, two in Flathead County, two in Yellowstone County, and one each in Gallatin County, Lincoln County, Madison County, and Missoula County.
Click here to see the current total of confirmed cases by county, along with information about recovered cases and hospitalizations
Montana National Guard to fly over cities to honor pandemic's front-line workers
The Montana Air National Guard is planning a series of flyovers over cities, including Billings, on Wednesday to salute front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two C-130 aircraft from the 120th Airlift Wing of the Guard will perform the flyovers as part of the Air Force Salutes flyover program. The planes are scheduled to fly over Billings at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday.
to honor pandemic's front-line workersPhoto by: Olson, ErikBy: Q2 NewsPosted at 8:25 AM, May 05, 2020 and last updated 8:25 AM, May 05, 2020The Montana Air National Guard is planning a series of flyovers over cities, including Billings, on Wednesday to salute front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two C-130 aircraft from the 120th Airlift Wing of the Guard will perform the flyovers as part of the Air Force Salutes flyover program. The planes are scheduled to fly over Billings at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday.
The purpose of the flyovers is to demonstrate the Department of the Air Force’s continued readiness during the national COVID-19 response, while saluting the American heroes at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19, according to the guard. The flyovers are also intended to lift morale in towns, cities and states across America due to the severe health and economic impacts that have resulted from COVID-19.
The event begins in Great Falls Wednesday morning with a two-ship flyover of Benefis Hospital. Then the aircraft will split off with one taking an eastern route and the other covering the western part of Montana. Together they are scheduled to fly over more than 20 cities and towns Wednesday, focusing on health care facilities in the regions they visit.
Flyovers such as these are conducted at no additional cost to the taxpayer and serve as training for aircrews.
The guard is asking all observers to avoid gathering in large groups to watch the flight and to observe social distancing.
For more information, visit the flight's Facebook page .
The Rebound
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. We're calling it The Rebound: Montana.
In the coming weeks and months, The Rebound: Montana will bring you stories to help navigate these uncertain times — 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.
Highlights of "Re-opening The Big Sky" plan
Governor Steve Bullock announced during a news conference on Wednesday a three-phase plan to "re-open" Montana, as closures and restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 will be gradually rescinded.
Among the highlights of the plan is that many retail businesses can become operational beginning on April 27, and restaurants, bars, casinos, and breweries can become operational beginning on May 4 in accordance with the guidelines listed below. Scroll down for links to the complete plan and key points.
- The "stay at home order" will expire on April 26 for individuals and April 27 for businesses. Retail businesses can become operational on or after April 27 if they can adhere to requirements to limit capacity and maintain strict physical distancing.
- Restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries can begin providing some in-establishment services beginning May 4.
- Businesses where groups gather without the ability to social distance including movie theaters, gyms, and other places of assembly remain closed.
- Places of worship can become operational on April 26 in a manner consistent with social distancing between people who are not members of the same household.
- On May 7, all schools will have the option to return to in-classroom teaching delivery at the discretion of local school boards. The Directive does not preclude school boards from declaring local emergencies to continue to receive all appropriate state funding to continue to provide remote learning.
- Montana’s travel quarantine will remain in effect and out of state travelers and residents arriving from another state or country back to Montana for non-work related purposes are required to quarantine for 14 days.
The plan includes several phases and highlights the factors that will determine when it is appropriate to move to the second phase of reopening. That decision will be driven by conditions on the ground and the latest data, according to Bullock.
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The "Re-opening The Big Sky" plan is divided into three phases; here is a summary of some of the key points of the first phase:
PHASE ONE: SPECIFIC TYPES OF EMPLOYERS/ACTIVITIES
- RESTAURANTS / BARS / BREWERIES / DISTILLERIES / CASINOS can become operational on or after May 4, under strict physical distancing and reduced capacity protocols in accordance with State guidelines. All patrons must be out of bars, restaurants, and casinos by 11:30.
- RETAIL BUSINESSES can become operational on or after Monday, April 27, with reduced capacity and where strict physical distancing protocols can be maintained.
- GYMS / POOLS / HOT TUBS remain closed.
- PERSONAL CARE (SALONS, MASSAGE, BODY ART, ETC.) Operations that require close personal contact for an extended period result in exposing staff and customers to greater levels of risk. These situations require additional safety and health precautions. Stylist / artist / service-provider and customer would be a “station” that would be 6 feet away from other “stations”. • Provide for 6 feet of physical distancing between stations, this may require: • A reduction in capacity; • Increasing spacing, removing stations, or marking stations as closed; • Providing for a physical barrier between stations; • A reduction of seating in service and waiting areas; or • Systems that reduce the amount of contact time between customers and staff.
- SENIOR LIVING OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES must continue to prohibit visitors. Those who do interact with residents and patients must ensure strict protocols regarding hygiene and protection are followed. This includes daily screening of staff for symptoms and preventing ill workers from working.
- OUTDOOR RECREATION can become operational if sites adhere to strict physical distancing between groups and exercise frequent sanitation protocols if public facilities are open.
- PLACES OF WORSHIP can become operational on or after Sunday, April 26, with reduced capacity and where strict physical distancing protocols can be maintained between non-household members.
- OTHER PLACES OF ASSEMBLY shall remain closed (e.g., movie and performance theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys, bingo halls, and music halls).
PHASE ONE: INDIVIDUALS
- ALL VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS should continue to follow the stay home guidance. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents.
- Vulnerable Individuals: people over 65 years of age and/or those with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.
- All individuals (non-household), WHEN IN PUBLIC (e.g., parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), should maximize physical distance from others. • Avoid GATHERING in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing.
- MINIMIZE NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL and adhere to Montana guidelines regarding quarantine.
PHASE ONE: EMPLOYERS
- Continue to ENCOURAGE TELEWORK whenever possible and feasible with business operations.
- When telework is not feasible it is encouraged to ACCOMMODATE ALTERNATE WORK SCHEDULES such as shift work and staggered scheduling in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
- Close COMMON AREAS where personnel are likely to congregate and interact; or enforce strict social distancing protocols.
- MINIMIZE NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TRAVEL.
- SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS should be made for members of a VULNERABLE POPULATION or those with vulnerable household members.
The above information is just a brief summary of key points; click the links below for more details.
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