As State COVID 19 cases surge, Phillips County remains under Mask Mandate

As of October 12, 2020, 423 new cases of COVID cases were reported in Montana, bringing the statewide total to 19,125 with a total recovered caseload of 11,481. Currently, 904 Montanans are hospitalized with the virus, and 11,481 patients are considered recovered. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, more than half of US states are seeing an increase in new coronavirus cases, with Montana being one of five states reporting a jump of more than 50-percent in the last week. More than 214,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S.

While the surrounding counties are seeing a spike in diagnoses, Malta and Phillips County are holding steady with a total current caseload of four active cases as of Tuesday morning. This number reflects seven cases that have been deemed recovered since earlier in the day.

The Health Department urges residents to stay vigilant and to remember to wash their hands, maintain social distancing, and to wear a mask when required or when social distancing is not possible. Please stay home if you are sick. We all must do our part to keep our numbers low, as many surrounding hospitals have reached capacity and will not be able to accept transfers if it becomes necessary.

“We have finally been in a more manageable situation and it would be nice to stay here. The Phillips County Health Department would like your help and I know our local partners would too. The clinic, lab, hospital, EMTs, schools, clubs, and businesses have all been working very hard to keep our community healthy” reads a social media statement from October 9th.

In neighboring Valley County, the Valley County Health Department reported a total of 58 active cases on Monday night and a total of 137 people have recovered. Total cases in Valley County hit 195 and there are currently four hospitalizations.

“Face coverings or masks are recommended in public places at all times, regardless of the number of active cases in Valley County,” Valley County Health Department’s Facebook page said.

In Blaine County, the health department reported 74 active cases, with three hospitalizations, and 70 people have recovered from the COVID-19 virus. The Baine County Health Department’s posted on their Facebook page “Fourteen (14) cases have met the recovery/release from isolation criteria.

Still, the vast majority of these cases under public health management have been identified through contact tracing. Our county has seen social gatherings, large families and workplaces be the most common places for transmission of COVID-19.

To continue to have days like today when the recoveries outnumber the new cases, we all have to do our part.

Please continue to:

• Stay home and keep close contact with non-household members limited.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Wear a mask when you are around non-household contacts.

• Wash your hands.

• Be honest and helpful with the public health professionals who are working to decrease transmission.”