GREAT FALLS — Governor Steve Bullock will host a news conference that is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. A news release from Bullock says that he plans to discuss "new measures to provide relief to Montanans impacted by COVID-19 and ensure hospitals have financial stability to continue providing quality health care." You can watch a livestream of the news conference below.
Bullock started by saying that 32 of the confirmed COVID-19 patients in Montana have been released from quarantine and recovered. He also said that he has approved a directive that prohibits landlords from evicting tenants who can not pay their rent, and also prohibits residential foreclosures, during the state of emergency. Utility shut-offs during the state of emergency have been suspended.
We will update you on more details about the directive shortly.
Here is a summary of recent COVID-19 articles:
QUARANTINE FOR TRAVELERS: On Monday afternoon, Governor Steve Bullock directed that travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. Bullock said the directive applies both to Montana residents and non-residents entering the state for non-work-related purposes. It requires a self-quarantine for 14 days, or the duration of a non-work trip to Montana, whichever is shorter. It also instructs the Montana Department of Commerce to advise vacation listing and rental sites that they must notify potential out-of-state renters about the quarantine requirement. Health care workers are excluded from the directive. In addition, the directive authorizes the Montana National Guard to conduct temperature checks at Montana airports and rail stations and screen for potential exposure history for travelers arriving in Montana from another state or country.
STATE SUMMARY: As of Tuesday morning (March 31), there are now 184 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Montana, and four deaths, according to the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS). Here are the counties with the most confirmed cases in Montana:
Gallatin 69; Yellowstone 28; Missoula 12; Lewis & Clark 11; Butte-Silver Bow 11; Flathead 11; Cascade 8; Toole 6; Madison 6; Lincoln 5; Broadwater 3; Deer Lodge 3; Lake 3; Park 3.
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. There have now been 14 hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in Montana. 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.
As of Monday evening, the DPHHS public health lab in Helena has completed more than 4,411 tests for COVID-19. Officials know that the number of actual cases is undoubtedly much higher, and are continuing to test in accordance with CDC guidelines. The "recovery rate" for Montana has not yet been determined, as COVID-19 is still relatively new in our state and there is not enough data to calculate an accurate rate at this point.
CONTINUING COVERAGE:
- Governor orders 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving in Montana
- What businesses are considered "essential" in Montana?
- Likely take at least 2 weeks for stimulus checks to arrive
- Two COVID-19 deaths confirmed in Toole County
- 77-year old man identified as first COVID-19 death in Montana
- Cascade County law enforcement officials clarify "stay at home"
- Coronavirus stimulus package: What it means for Americans
- Unemployment claims skyrocket in Montana
- Restrictions and closures extended in Montana due coronavirus
- Yellowstone National Park is closed to all visitors until further notice