GREAT FALLS — State health officials reported 29 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map. This brings the cumulative number of cases in Montana to 829. The state is also reporting one new COVID-19-related death, bringing the state total to 22.
ACTIVE CASES: There are currently 218 active cases across the state.
HOSPITALIZATIONS/RECOVERIES: There has been a total of 98 people hospitalized; there are currently 14 people hospitalized. There has been a cumulative total of 589 recoveries.
TESTING: The number of tests increased by 1,829 over the previous 24-hour reporting period, for a new state-wide total of 80,161.
DEATHS: The cumulative number of deaths in Montana is 22. There have been six deaths in Toole County, four in Yellowstone County, two in Cascade County, two in Flathead County, and two in Big Horn County. The other deaths have been reported in Gallatin, Lincoln, Madison, and Missoula counties. Details about the most recent death are not immediately available, but it appears the state is attributing it to a case connected to Rosebud County.
CASCADE COUNTY: There are currently nine active cases in Cascade County; the City-County Health Department in Great Falls believes that most of the new cases are community-acquired, and did not involve travel. There has been a cumulative total of 26 confirmed cases in Cascade County; 15 of the patients recovered, and two of the patients died. The CCHD says that as in all cases, they are performing contact tracing. Anyone who comes up in their investigation as having been exposed will be contacted.
Free drive-through testing is available from Alluvion Health in the parking lot of the former Westgate Mall, located at 3rd Street NW. Click here for dates and times.
As with previous reporting of COVID-19 cases, the lack of specific information about cases - such as where a patient lives or works, or where the person may have traveled - has some people upset, but the disclosure of patient information is regulated at both the federal and the state level. Click here to read more about privacy regulations and what can/can't be released.
RELATED: CCHD addresses spike in COVID-19 cases
BIG HORN COUNTY: Big Horn County health officials on Friday announced an order requiring residents to wear face masks when outside their homes. The order, approved by the Big Horn County Health Board, is the result of the increase in COVID-19 cases in the county, according to a press release. County commissioners, the county health board, and the Crow Tribe "are standing in solidarity to promote universal wearing of masks by everyone in Big Horn County, when in public and at risk of coming within six (6) feet of another person," the press release states.
County, Gender, and Age of New Cases
| Big Horn | M | 30-39 | |
| Big Horn | M | 0-9 | |
| Flathead | M | 50-59 | |
| Gallatin | M | 10-19 | |
| Gallatin | F | 40-49 | |
| Gallatin | F | 50-59 | |
| Gallatin | F | 0-9 | |
| Gallatin | M | 50-59 | |
| Gallatin | M | 20-29 | |
| Gallatin | M | 50-59 | |
| Gallatin | M | 10-19 | |
| Gallatin | F | 20-29 | |
| Missoula | M | 30-39 | |
| Missoula | F | 30-39 | |
| Missoula | M | 50-59 | |
| Missoula | F | 10-19 | |
| Missoula | M | 10-19 | |
| Ravalli | M | 60-69 | |
| Ravalli | F | 50-59 | |
| Ravalli | F | 20-29 | |
| Ravalli | F | 60-69 | |
| Richland | M | 0-9 | |
| Roosevelt | F | 40-49 | |
| Yellowstone | M | 60-69 | |
| Yellowstone | F | 20-29 | |
| Yellowstone | M | 30-39 | |
| Yellowstone | M | 30-39 | |
| Yellowstone | F | 20-29 | |
| Yellowstone | M | 60-69 |