Gov. Steve Bullock announced Monday he has secured 19,500 swabs and 9,000 viral transport medium from the federal government to boost COVID-19 testing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and in tribal communities in Montana.
“As we continue on the path of reopening, it’s critical we have consistent access to supplies to identify new cases and ambitiously contact trace to remove chains of transmission and continue to contain the virus,” Bullock said in a statement. “I will continue to work with the federal government and private suppliers to ensure we receive the consistent supply chain we need to reach our testing targets.”
Last week, Bullock announced the framework of a plan to eventually conduct 60,000 tests per month aimed at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and reservations.
Bullock said in a news release that he has lobbied for more tests in phone calls with other governors and the president, vice president, and Trump administration officials.