Montana Coronavirus Report | Montana Free Press

updated

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the U.S. and Montana, we’ll provide regular updates with the latest news and information. Figures and information are accurate at the time of publication.

The latest numbers

Montana cases

As of Wednesday, June 10, Montana reports 561 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 56 active cases, and 18 deaths from the disease. State officials also report that 74 of the cases have resulted in hospitalizations, with 7 patients currently hospitalized, and 487 patients considered recovered. The state’s official dashboard is here, and more information on the numbers reported by the state is here.

05.19.2020

Montana to enter phase two of reopening

Montana will lift its 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers as the state transitions to phase two of the Reopening the Big Sky plan on June 1, Gov. Steve Bullock announced Tuesday.

Lifting the quarantine will coincide with a likely June 1 opening of Montana’s gates to Yellowstone National Park in West Yellowstone, Gardiner and Cooke City, Bullock said. Yellowstone’s Wyoming gates opened to travelers on Monday, May 18.

Under phase two, gathering may expand to 50 people, restaurants and bars can expand to 75% capacity, and gyms, pools and hot tubs can re-open. Bullock said the state is prepared to transition to phase two because of the limited number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana and enhanced contact tracing and testing capacity.

05.19.2020

Bozeman man ticketed, turned away from Cooke City

A Bozeman man was ticketed Friday for traveling through the northern gate at Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner in an attempt to reach Cooke City. 

Tyler Vance was charged with a misdemeanor for violating a “health and safety closure order.” The ticket is time-stamped 7:37 p.m. Vance posted several videos of the interaction on Friday, including one that shows him driving through the northern gate, a 14-minute Facebook Live video that shows him being pulled over and handcuffed by Yellowstone park rangers, and a video that shows him driving home after the interaction.  

05.15.2020

State ramps up COVID-19 testing in correctional facilities

Criminal justice advocates continue to urge expedited release.

Hundreds more people in Montana’s prisons and correctional facilities will have access to coronavirus testing starting today, a significant increase from the total of 31 inmates and offenders that have received a test so far.

The state Department of Corrections said this week that 772 tests per month will be available for inmates and staff who are asymptomatic. That’s in addition to diagnostic testing for anyone exhibiting symptoms, according to spokeswoman Carolynn Bright, which is the policy DOC said it has so far followed in accordance with CDC guidelines.

To date, three DOC and contract staff have tested positive for COVID-19, in…