GREAT FALLS — As of Monday morning (April 20), there have been a total of 433 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Montana; there have no new cases since Sunday.
- There have been eleven deaths to date. There have been five deaths in Toole County, and one each in Lincoln County, Madison County, Missoula County, Flathead County, Cascade County, and Yellowstone County. The official state website has not yet been updated to reflect the 11th death.
- There have now been 57 hospitalizations to date of COVID-19 patients in Montana; 19 of those are considered "active (current) hospitalizations."
- There have been a total of 243 recovered patients to date. The number of recoveries by county has not been released at this point.
- The DPHHS public health lab has completed 11,051 tests for COVID-19, including 153 tests since Sunday's update.
Click here to see the current total of confirmed cases by county.
TOOLE COUNTY: Toole County confirmed its fifth COVID-19 death on Monday. To date, there have been 29 confirmed cases in Toole County, and 15 patients are listed as recovered. The Toole County Public Health Department says that there is one patient currently hospitalized. On a per-capita basis, Toole County has been hit harder than any other county in Montana by the COVID-19 pandemic. Toole County has a population of about 4,900; the town of Shelby, which is the county seat, has about 3,200 people. Click here to read more.
The Joint Information Center in Toole County said in a news release: "It is with the deepest condolences that we report the fifth death (a female, age 80-89) in our community due to COVID-19. We continue to think of all those who have been affected by this virus while working diligently to reduce its impact. Of the cases in Montana at this time, nearly half have recovered. Multiple sources predict Montana has passed, or is nearing, its coronavirus peak. Please continue to remain vigilant of proper social distancing and hygiene protocols, along with all of the Governor’s directives, so that we, as a state, can stop the spread. All Toole County cases continue to consist of close contact transmission."
PROTEST: Several hundred people gathered in Helena on Sunday to protest COVID-19 restrictions and closures; click here to read more.
PHASED RE-OPENING: Governor Steve Bullock said on Friday that he’s working on a “phased re-opening” of Montana, provided that the state meets key metrics that show the spread of COVID-19 is slowing. Bullock said that he’s planning to release a detailed plan next week. He’s working with his newly-created COVID-19 task force, which consists of business, public health, government leaders, and Major General Matthew Quinn, head of the Montana National Guard. Click here to read more about it.
THE REBOUND: MONTANA: 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. They are stories that will help all of us navigate through these uncertain times. In the coming weeks and months, we'll be focusing on “The Rebound: Montana.” It is a series of reports, videos, and information that show our commitment to stories that will help you as our communities begin to rebound - 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 and help others.
CONTINUING COVERAGE:
- First COVID-19 death in Cascade County reported
- Report: "Interim Analysis of COVID-19 cases in Montana"
- Legislative leaders ask Bullock to reconsider some restrictions
- Determining how many people have recovered
- Great Falls Job Service provides update on unemployment assistance
- OPI recommends closing for remainder of school year
- COVID-19: Q&A with a Great Falls physician
- Officials highlight recoveries of two COVID-19 patients in Montana