As of Friday, October 2, 2020, Montana reports 13,855 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 360 new cases reported in the last day: 69 in Yellowstone County, 63 in Gallatin County, 29 in Missoula County, 28 in Cascade County, 24 in Flathead County, 22 in Lewis & Clark County, 13 in Beaverhead County, 11 in Roosevelt County, 10 in Richland County, 9 in Glacier County, 6 in each of Fallon, Park, and Ravalli Counties, 5 in each of Deer Lodge, Pondera, and Valley Counties, 4 in each of Big Horn, Chouteau, Dawson, and Granite Counties, and new cases in sixteen more Montana counties. Statewide, 729 people have been hospitalized, and 177 people are currently being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. Yellowstone County has had 3,493 cases so far. Gallatin County has had 1,491. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 4,100. The most active cases are in Yellowstone County, with 1,013 active cases. Gallatin County has 224. 186 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 208,000 Americans have died. There have been 7,340,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Gallatin County reported a new daily high number of coronavirus cases Friday with 68 new cases, a record jump in the number of cases. Previously, the highest one-day increase was 45 new cases, reported on July 23. There are 198 active cases in the Gallatin County right now, and eight hospitalizations. Four people have died from COVID-19 complications in Gallatin County, and there have been almost 1,600 total cases. The number of COVID-19 cases has steadily risen in Gallatin County in recent weeks, with an increase of 54% in the last week. There were 43 new cases associated with Montana State University reported, and a total of 157 coronavirus cases at MSU since Aug. 1.

Nearly a third of Montana’s senior living facilities, 87 of 284, have reported staff or residents have tested positive for COVID-19. There are currently 293 active cases associated with senior living facilities: 202 cases at long-term care facilities and 91 cases at assisted living facilities. So far, 54 of Montana’s 186 deaths are attributed to senior care facilities.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, along with political advisor Hope Hicks, have tested positive for coronavirus, and President Trump was transported to Walter Reed National Military Hospital Friday afternoon. The president was reported as having a low-grade fever, fatigue, and mild symptoms; officlals said that his hospitalization is a precautionary measure. Others in recent contact with Trump also have contracted coronavirus, including Republican National Committee RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and the president of Notre Dame, John Jenkins, who attended the SCOTUS announcement at the White House last Saturday. The positive test results for Hope Hicks were known before Trump flew to Minnesota and to New Jersey for in-person fundraisers, but the president proceeded with the events, at which he and most attendees did not wear face masks.

Health officials say that the next five to 10 days will be critical for President Trump after his positive test for Covid-19. Doctors warn the illness can suddenly worsen after several days of relatively mild symptoms.

Stock markets tumbled Friday morning as investors sold off shares following President Trump’s announcement that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.