DPHHS Announces More COVID 19 Cases for Montana

UPDATE---Sunday, March 22, 2020 10:00 a.m.

As of Sunday morning the number of confirmed cases in Montana has grown to 34. There are now eight cases in Park County, five in Yellowstone County, four in Missoula, three in Cascade and Lewis and Clark Counties, two in Flathead and Silverbow counties,and one each in Madison, Ravalli, Broadwater and Roosevelt counties.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, you can take simple steps to protect yourself and your family:

Stay home if you’re sick,
Avoid contact with sick people when possible,
Cover your cough and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and wash your hands frequently
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

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UPDATE--- Saturday, March 21, 2020 4:00 p.m.

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services has increased Montana's total COVID 19 patients to 23.

State officials have moved to implement new guidelines and include cases of out-of-state residents who are diagnosed in Montana.

The new guidelines mean that the state's number will differ from the CDC's guidelines.

This boosted the total number of confirmed cases to 23.

Today's updated cases include the first reported case in Ravalli County, and an additional case in Flathead county.

Ravalli County officials sent out a press release Saturday stating that the first confirmed case for that county is a teenage girl who is resting in isolation at home. Those who have been in close contact with the teen are in quarantine. Authorities report the girl is believed to have acquired the virus through international travel.

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At a telephone press conference from Helena on Friday, Governor Steve Bullock said there were two more COVID 19 cases in the state, bringing the total to 20.

“So far today the lab has confirmed two more cases,” said Bullock. “There’s one from Madison County, a female in her 50’s and the Lewis and Clark County patient is a male in his 30’s. We’re still following the protocol of contacting local public health agencies when results immediately become available, so that way they can contact the patient and begin to learn more about the patient’s history.”

Bullock also confirmed that there will be extra time for Montanans to file their income tax returns due to the coronavirus crisis.

“Today, we also extended Montana’s payment filing deadline for 2019 individual income taxpayers to July 15^th,” he said. “That’s consistent with the new federal filing deadline, so Montanans across the state will have some extra breathing room without having to worry about interest or penalties.”

He said the Montana Department of Revenue will also work with taxpayers during this time.

“The Montana Department of Revenue will be lenient in waiving penalties and interest associated with late tax payments, and the department will work with taxpayers on an individual basis,” he said. “Montanans who are expecting a refund can certainly still file now in order to have additional income at this time.”

The governor’s office has created a new website to keep track of the COVID 19 numbers throughout the state, and you can access that website here.