COVID-19 in Montana (Tuesday July 21)

GREAT FALLS — Health officials reported 97 new COVID-19 cases across Montana on Tuesday morning, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map, and one new death.

Governor Steve Bullock announced last Wednesday a statewide directive requiring face coverings/masks in Montana. The directive is effective immediately in counties that have four or more active cases of COVID-19. The directive requires that masks be used in most indoor settings and where social distancing cannot be maintained. Bullock said businesses will have the right to deny entry of anyone not wearing a mask. Click here for details on the directive.

Note: numbers reported by the state each day occasionally differ from those reported by county public health departments due to periodic lag times in reporting data to the state. The numbers below are from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services on Tuesday, July 21st:

• TOTAL CASES & RECOVERIES: There have now been 2,712 cumulative cases statewide, and 1,493 people have recovered from the virus.
• HOSPITALIZATIONS: There have been 174 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 since the pandemic began; there are currently 49 patients hospitalized.

• ACTIVE CASES: The state reports there are currently 1,179 active COVID-19 cases in Montana.

• TESTING: The number of tests increased by 1,960 over the previous 24-hour reporting period, for a new cumulative state-wide total of 141,002.

• DEATHS: The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is now 40.

The latest death is linked to the Canyon Creek Memory Care facility in Billings where a deadly COVID-19 outbreak has now claimed 13 lives.

Gallatin County added the most new cases with 18, followed by Yellowstone County and Flathead County with 14 new cases each. Big Horn County added 12 new cases, and Lake County reported nine new cases. The remaining new cases were reported in 15 counties across the state (see below).

From the Cascade City-County Health Department in Great Falls on Tuesday: "We have two new cases today: a male in his 70s and female in her 40s. Several community members have asked about COVID-19 transmission and mosquitos. The World Health Organization (WHO) states: "To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes. The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Also, avoid close contact with anyone who is coughing and sneezing."

From the Pondera County Health Department on Monday: "Pondera County has now reached 5 active cases. This means that the Governors mask mandate is now in effect in Pondera County."

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New Cases Reported On Tuesday