GREAT FALLS — Governor Steve Bullock on Wednesday evening said that two new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Montana.
The two new cases are a Missoula County man in his 50s, and a Gallatin County man in his 60s. The tests, conducted by the DPHHS Public Health Laboratory, were confirmed Wednesday evening.
A case announced Wednesday morning for a Gallatin County man in his 20s is now being classified as a New Hampshire case after it was determined the patient is a resident there.
State and local public health laboratories are no longer required to send “presumptive positive” samples to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmation. From now on, respiratory samples positive for SARS-CoV2 in a state and public-health laboratory will be considered “positive” with no need for further testing.
DPHHS and the county health department is following up to learn more details about the patients' exposure risk and travel history, and to identify and communicate with anyone who may have been in close contact with them. All patients will be isolated or quarantined in accordance with public health guidelines. People who came into close contact with the individuals will be monitored for 14 days for fever and respiratory symptoms per CDC guidance.
There are now 11 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Montana. Here is the publicly-released information about them:
- Missoula County (4): man in his 50s, woman in her 30s; man in his 20s; man in his 50s
- Gallatin County (3): man in his 40s; man in his 20s; man in his 60s
- Yellowstone County (2): woman in her 50s; woman in her 20s
- Butte-Silver Bow County: man in his 50s
- Broadwater County: man in his 50s
There is also a Montana woman diagnosed with COVID-19 who is a part-time Lake County resident; she is currently in Maryland with no documented exposures or close contacts in Montana, and was not tested in Montana. She was tested and diagnosed in Maryland, where she currently is residing.
In addition, one person who tested positive in Gallatin County earlier has now been classified by the CDC as a New Hampshire case due to his residency.
CONTINUING COVERAGE:
- Cascade County: no COVID-19 cases, no formal restrictions on restaurants
- Some grocery stores begin offering periodic "seniors only" shopping
- Why COVID-19 is causing more concern than the flu
- Free COVID-19 testing and unemployment benefits for Montanans
- Bullock directs two-week closure of public K-12 schools in Montana
- How the coronavirus closure will affect Great Falls Public Schools
- How the coronavirus closure will affect Great Falls Public Schools
- CDC: Cancel or postpone all events with more than 50 people for next 8 weeks
- St. Patrick's Day parade and other events canceled due to coronavirus