As of Thursday, October 29, 2020, Montana reports 30,853 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the second-highest number of new cases recorded since the start of the pandemic, 891 new cases, reported in the last day: 165 in Yellowstone County, 119 in Cascade County, 102 in Gallatin County, 67 in Missoula County, 50 in Flathead County, 41 in Lewis & Clark County, 34 in Glacier County, 28 in Ravalli County, 26 in Powell County, 20 in Lake County, 18 in Blaine County, 18 in Custer County, and more new cases in 34 more Montana counties. Statewide, 1,312 people have been hospitalized, and 373 people are currently being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. There are 10,474 active coronavirus cases in Montana. The most active cases are in the southeast part of the state in Yellowstone County, and in the northwest corner of the state in Flathead and Glacier and Missoula Counties, in the west central counties of Cascade, and Lewis & Clark, and in the southwest, Gallatin County. 337 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 228,000 Americans have died. There have been 8,980,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says small indoor gatherings of family and friends are causing new COVID outbreaks, and that has worrying implications for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As families plan for the coming festivities, they need to consider the risks of a gathering. Coronavirus cases in the United States have reached new highs in recent days, with daily cases averaging around 70,000. The new surge doesn’t bode well for the upcoming holiday season. “We’re going into a precarious situation,” Fauci said. Cold weather is forcing people indoors, cases are going up in all age groups, and holidays are likely to bring people together in groups — a combination he called “a bad recipe for a tough time ahead.” Fauci noted that many infections are currently spread in small gatherings in people’s homes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sending 320,000 BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen tests to Montana. These rapid point-of-care tests can diagnose coronavirus infection in as little as 15 minutes. They will be distributed at the discretion of Gov. Bullock. As of Oct. 26, over 150,000 BinaxNOW tests were already shipped to Montana. Montana shared two-thirds of tests to public education and institutes of higher education and one-third are going to community health centers and large medical facilities.
The Cascade City-County Health Board sharply cut the number of people allowed to gather Wednesday in an effort to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19, which health officials say is stressing the health system in Great Falls. The board unanimously approved restricting the number of people at all group gatherings or planned events at businesses, organizations and private residences to no more than 50 people, both inside and outside. The board also reduced the allowed capacity at bars, restaurants, casinos, coffee houses, gymnasiums and movie theaters to 50 percent. The new restrictions go into effect November 1, Sunday.
Until Nov. 2, voters can return their ballots during regular business hours at the county election office in Bozeman, the Associated Students of Montana State University office, the Big Sky Water and Sewer District office and the clerk’s offices in Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks and West Yellowstone.
These drop-off locations will be open Election Day, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be additional drop-off locations on Election Day — the county fairgrounds in Bozeman, Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman, the Belgrade Special Events Center, the River Rock Community Center, the Gallatin Gateway Community Center, Manhattan Christian High School and the Bridger Canyon Fire Station. The courthouse is also open for voting, and for same-day voting on election day, if you prefer to vote in person. Please vote!