GREAT FALLS — Three cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Cascade County, bringing the total number of cases in Montana to at least 30.
The City-County Health Department in Great Falls said on Saturday evening that the three patients are:
• A man in his 50s who recently engaged in international travel
• A woman in her 50s who recently engaged in international travel
• A woman in her 20s who recently engaged in international travel
All three patients are isolated at their homes and have been taking every precaution to minimize spread. No other information about the patients has been released. The CCHD said it plans to release more information on Sunday afternoon.
Trisha Gardner, Health Officer for the City of Great Falls and Cascade County, said, “We knew that Cascade County would eventually have confirmed cases of COVID-19, and we have been diligently planning a long time for this. We know that community exposure is limited and localized. Even though we understand no one wants to hear that a new virus has shown up in our County, residents should rest assured that CCHD and our partner agencies will act out of an abundance of caution.”
State officials are keeping a list of confirmed cases and resources on an updated map and website - click here to visit the site. A spokesoman for the Montana COVID-19 Task Force says that positive test results for Montana residents who are currently outside the state will not be included in the totals reported on the website, and said: "The state recognizes that its reporting totals will differ from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) total as a result of these reporting processes."
Other counties with confirmed cases of COVID-19 include: Yellowstone, Missoula, Gallatin, Flathead, Lewis & Clark, Butte-Silver Bow, Broadwater, Roosevelt, Ravalli, and Madison. As of Friday evening, the public health lab in Helena has completed 1,166 tests for (COVID-19).
