BOZEMAN — Whether you want it to or not, the coronavirus has affected your life in more ways than one.
But do you have a clear understanding of the actual virus?
“Medically, it’s a virus in the family or class of corona that is a group of viruses that we see routinely. But unfortunately, a group of people will actually get it so it disrupts the function of their lower respiratory system, their lungs," explained Dr. Andrew Sullivan.
Dr. Sullivan is a pulmonologist or lung doctor at the Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital.
And he shows us what that can look like internally.
“And then you can see this white stuff that’s here that’s not up there. That is the effect of coronavirus,” he explained.
According to the doctor, a coronavirus diagnosis doesn’t mean a death sentence.
“The majority will recover and and then there will be people who don’t know that they have it. But even the symptomatic people, the majority will recover,” Dr. Sullivan said.
Dr. Sullivan advises people to take social distancing and CDC guidelines seriously if they want to stop the virus from spreading.
“The people who get symptomatic with it will have been shedding the virus before they came down with the symptoms, so that’s why social distancing is so important. You won’t know if you have it and you certainly won’t know you’ve been shedding it before you get symptoms,” he said.
And while there’s no still no cure. Hospitals do have treatments for patients.
Treatments mean hey there’s something we can give you that will keep you healthy and possibly alive as your body’s going through the process of beating the coronavirus on its own,” according to the doctor.
The number of corona cases in Montana is continuously going up, but with safety measures put in place, Dr. Sullivan believes this is something we can overcome.
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According to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map, Montana confirms 208 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning.
(NOTE: This number may change due to counties reporting final numbers to the state.)
By: MTN NewsAccording to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map, Montana confirms 208 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning.
(NOTE: This number may change due to counties reporting final numbers to the state.)
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Recent Local NewsHigh nitrates: Health advisory issued for WordenBallantine water systemREAD MOREThe previously reported total Tuesday morning was 198.
Gallatin County still counts the most cases with 76.
Total Cases by County
Gallatin County - 76 Cases
Yellowstone County - 32 Cases
Missoula County - 14 Cases
Lewis and Clark County - 14 Cases
Flathead County - 14 Cases
Silver Bow County - 10 Cases
Cascade County - 9 Cases
Madison County - 6 Cases
Toole County - 6 Cases
Lincoln County - 5 Cases
Park County - 4 Cases
Lake County - 4 Cases
Deer Lodge County - 3 Cases
Broadwater County - 3 Cases
Jefferson County - 2 Cases
Ravalli County - 1 Cases
Musselshell County - 1 Cases
Meagher County - 1 Cases
Roosevelt County - 1 Cases
Hill County - 1 Cases
Liberty County - 1 Cases
Officials in Montana are keeping a list of confirmed cases in the Treasure State on an updated map and website - click here to visit the site. Each county with confirmed cases can be clicked, which shows how many cases there are, and provides the gender and the age range for all cases. County health departments and the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services release data by county only, and do not provide information on which towns the patients live in. In some cases, patients or family members have chosen to publicly release information.
Gov. Steve Bullock confirmed Tuesday that a fifth Montanan has died from COVID-19. No further details were provided about the person who died.
The first death was 77-year old Lincoln County resident Jim Tomlin, whose death was reported on Friday. On Sunday afternoon, public health officials confirmed the death of a Madison County resident who had tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday, officials in Toole County confirmed two deaths attributed to COVID-19.
