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March 12: No confirmed COVID-19 cases actually in Montana

Posted at 4:59 PM, Mar 12, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-12 20:31:43-04

GREAT FALLS — As of Thursday, March 12, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 actually in Montana. Here is the latest update from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services as of Thursday morning:

  • Reported COVID-19 Cases in Montana: 1*
  • Individuals monitored by public health: 30
  • - Individuals who have completed monitoring process: 26
  • - Individuals who remain under monitoring: 4
  • Persons tested for CoVID-19: 34
  • - Persons with negative results: 34
  • - Persons with positive results: 0

* The sole confirmed Montana case is a Lake County woman who is currently in Maryland. Health officials in Maryland say the woman was last in Montana in November 2019, has not returned to the state since that time, and was not in Montana during the 14-day incubation period. Despite the fact that the woman is not in Montana currently and has not been in Montana since she was exposed and tested positive, current guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) mandate that her case is considered to be a "Montana" case. Click here for more information.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), as of March 12, there are 1,215 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the nation. There have been 36 deaths, most of them in Washington. Click here for the latest information about COVID-19 at the CDC website.

On Thursday afternoon, Governor Steve Bullock issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency within Montana related to COVID-19. The emergency order puts the state on highest alert.

The emergency order allows the governor to direct a coordinated response to an outbreak of communicable disease. This includes mobilizing all available state resources, such as emergency funds or personnel from the National Guard.

The Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, city/county health departments, health and medical departments, and other agencies have activated response plans and protocols for prepare for the arrival of the virus in Montana.

On March 3, Governor Bullock activated the Governor’s Task Force, a multi-agency executive task force, to prepare the state and ensure the state, local public health, and the federal government are working together to keep Montanans informed with accurate and up-to-date information. The Task Force is spearheaded by Adjutant General Matthew Quinn, who oversees the Disaster and Emergency Services division which is well versed in multi-agency coordination and all-hazard response planning.

The Task Force created a hotline line at 1-888-333-0461 and people can also email questions to covid19info@mt.gov. State public health officials will be responding to inquiries from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.