Assume COVID-19 is in every Montana community

COVID-19 is all over Madison County.

Many Madison County residents have been concerned with where in the county COVID-19 cases are coming from. The nature of this novel virus is that a lot of cases will go undetected. According to public health officials, it is important for every Montanan to consider the chance that anyone could be infected with the virus. During the Madison County Board of Health meeting July 9, the board said it strongly recommended for the public to wear facemasks when in public settings.

“Even if we don’t have a positive [confirmed] in a community, it is likely there and we just don’t know about it yet,” Madison County Public Health Nurse Melissa Brummel said. “I would assume every Madison County community has infection.”

As of July 14, Montana has 1,034 confirmed active COVID-19 cases. Twenty-eight Montanans with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized, two of whom are Madison County residents over the ages of 60. Madison County has 22 confirmed active COVID-19 cases and all are in isolation.

Over the weekend, from July 11 – 13, the Madison County Public Health Department required 37 more people to quarantine due to close contacts with a known COVID-19 case. At least three of those 37 individuals tested positive for the virus, according to MCPHD. Madison County had 117 people in quarantine as of July 14, most are Madison County residents.

“Overall there are cases in the Ruby Valley, Big Sky and Madison Valley,” Brummel said. “People need to treat it as if it’s in their backyards because it’s in a lot of backyards.”