Montana reported four new COVID-19 cases on Friday, all of them in Big Horn County, according to the Montana Response COVID-19 tracking map.
The new cases jump the state total from 462 to 466 and also increased the number of active cases from 15 reported on Thursday to 19.
The number of active cases in Yellowstone County remains at 3.
Big Horn County health officials reported the new cases on Thursday.
State officials said two of the new Big Horn County cases involve girls between the age of 10 and 19. A boy in the same age range is also included, and the fourth case involves a man in his 30s.
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Big Horn County health officials issued this press release Friday morning regarding the new cases:
Big Horn County added four (4) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. As the Big Horn County COVID-19 Response Unified Coalition announced on their Facebook page (@BHCMTResponds) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020, 225 residents of the County have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tested, 210 test results were negative and seven (7) tests are pending, awaiting results at the labs. The four new confirmed positive cases bring the total number of positive test results to eight (8) in Big Horn County. Two (2) of the eight (8) COVID-19 patients have recovered, leaving six (6) active cases in the County.
The four new cases are:
· Two (2) females in their teens
· One (1) male in his teens
· One (1) male in his 30’s
The four previous cases were:
· Two (2) females in their 20’s
· One (1) female in her 50’s
· One (1) male in his 40’s
Two (2) of the earlier confirmed-positive patients have recovered. The remaining six (6) patients are quarantining and recovering at home.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Public Health Nursing, with assistance from the Big Horn County Public Health Department, have been tracing the contacts of these new cases. As with previous cases, all close contacts will be notified, interviewed, and given instructions for further action if required.
“With the prevalence of coronavirus in the country and around the world, we had anticipated an increase in positive cases in Big Horn County,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairman, George Real Bird III. “However, it is difficult to see it spread in our community. It is a stark reminder that COVID-19 can happen anywhere at any time to anyone.” Commissioner Real Bird further asked Big Horn County residents to cooperate with public health in their efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
Tracking down contacts to a positive case is one of the best tools public health can use to slow the spread of the virus. If you believe you were in the presence of a recently confirmed COVID-19 case for more than five (5) minutes, please call public health so that a nurse may interview you and determine what level of exposure you have:
· IHS Public Health: (406) 638-3478
· Big Horn County Public Health: (406) 665-8720
Because the availability of testing supplies remains limited in Big Horn County, people who are not named as a close contact and are not sick should not go to our clinics or hospitals to seek coronavirus testing. However, if you are sick or have symptoms related to COVID-19, such as a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, please phone your healthcare provider for advice. Please remember that even if you are asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) of COVID-19, you may be infected and can spread the virus to others.
IHS Public Health Nursing and Big Horn County Public Health wish to remind all residents of Big Horn County of the best ways to prevent the transmission of this illness: stay home; wash your hands thoroughly and often; clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces and items; wear a mask when in public; stay at least six (6) feet away from other people; and avoid travel out of the County if at all possible. And if you are feeling sick, do not go to work or leave your home; rather, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
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Custer County health officials also reported two new cases on Thursday but said they involved workers who came to Montana from another state. Montana state did not include those cases in the Friday update.
Three people remain hospitalized, and the number of recoveries remains at 431.
Testing in the state increased Friday by 869, putting the new total number of tests at 25,418.
Cases By Day
Total Confirmed Cases and New Daily Cases by County
Big Horn County
8 Total Cases | 4 New Cases
Beaverhead County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Broadwater County
4 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Carbon County
6 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Cascade County
17 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Deer Lodge County
3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Flathead County
37 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Gallatin County
149 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Glacier County
6 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Golden Valley County
3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Hill County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Jefferson County
3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Lake County
5 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Lewis and Clark County
16 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Liberty County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Lincoln County
7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Madison County
8 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Meagher County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Missoula County
39 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Musselshell County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Park County
8 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Pondera County
2 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Ravalli County
5 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Richland County
3 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Roosevelt County
7 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Silver Bow County
11 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Stillwater County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Toole County
29 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Wheatland County
1 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
Yellowstone County
83 Total Cases | 0 New Cases
