BOZEMAN - When you look at the map of COVID-19 cases in Montana , you can’t help but notice there’s a significant amount of more cases in Gallatin County compared to the rest of the state.
In a press conference Friday, Gallatin City-County Health Department Health Officer Matt Kelley addressed why he believed this was so.
Kelley said Gallatin County is home to tourist sites, a crossroads to other popular locations, and has a growing economy with a lively university.
He says the natural beauty and nearby attractions bring people in from across the state and the world.
“So yes, I know when you look at the map, we have the highest number of cases,” said Kelley. “But what the map doesn’t show is the enormous amount of talent and vigor and energy that’s in the community fighting this pandemic.”
Yellowstone County has the second most amount of reported COVID-19 cases in Montana.
Montana Governor Steve Bullock on Thursday afternoon issued a directive requiring Montanans to stay home and temporarily closes all nonessential businesses and operations as efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) continue. The order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 28. Click here for complete details .
The order will be in effect through Friday, April 10, and requires all businesses and operations in Montana, except for essential businesses and operations as defined in the directive, to stop all activities within the state. The Directive also prohibits all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household or place of residence.
Employees who are not sure if they are considered essential should talk with their manager/business owner. Business owners with questions can call at 1-800-755-6672 and leave messages 24-hours a day and will receive a prompt response, according to Bullock.
The order does not prohibit restaurants from continuing to offer take-out, curb-side, and delivery service.
As of Saturday, March 28, 2020, at 8 a.m. Gallatin County has a total of 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, no patients in the county are hospitalized.
The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.
