BILLINGS Yellowstone County Health Officer John Felton urged everyone on Thursday to do their part to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has affected Yellowstone County in recent weeks with 14 deaths and an increasing number of positive cases.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Felton spoke about the increasing number of coronavirus cases and Governor Steve Bullock’s directive to make the masks mandatory when found in public places.
Felton said there are currently 440 active cases in Yellowstone County, nearly a third of all cases in the entire state of Montana.
“This month alone, Yellowstone County has reported 458 cases, more cases than the county in the previous four months combined,” he said. “Among the 629 cases reported in Yellowstone County since the pandemic began on March 13, 440 of them are active right now. Nearly a third of the 1,226 active cases in Montana are in Yellowstone County. Today, There are 24 people confirmed that Covid-19 was hospitalized in Yellowstone County. This constitutes 55% of all people hospitalized in the state of Montana with the disease. “
“Yellowstone County is the epicenter of the pandemic in Montana,” he said.
(See the full press conference in the video above.)
One of the largest groups has been in nursing homes where 112 residents and staff tested positive – 91 at the Canyon Creek Memory Center.
“Let me assure you that Covid-19 is a big problem. The families of 14 dead residents of Yellowstone County certainly believe it is a big problem. Our 440 friends and neighbors who are isolated at home and the several thousand close contacts who are isolated and spending the summer behind closed doors believe this is a big problem, ”Felton said.
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Felton said that universal masking has been shown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and urged everyone to wear a mask to keep neighbors safe and help businesses stay open.
Felton also said it has been difficult for Riverstone Health to follow up on contacts, not only because of the stress the surge is causing in the public health system, but also because many people are not answering calls or cooperating with quarantine orders.
Another obstacle is the national delay in the test results. Felton said that will affect Riverstone’s ability to conduct tests at the Shrine Auditorium as planned. Asymptomatic testing will continue for the rest of this week, but Felton doesn’t know how long it might take to get the results back. Testing will continue for those who show symptoms.
Felton predicted that the rest of July will continue to see many cases in Yellowstone County. When asked if it is possible for schools to open with cases that continue to rise, she said that everything involves risk and that in just two weeks the regular impact of masking would be seen on a regular basis if people follow the directive and use them.
“It is not inconvenient to wear a mask and maintain an adequate social distance worth saving a life, saving a job or saving a business,” Felton said, urging everyone in the community to do their part again.
RELATED: Governor requires face masks indoors in 23 counties
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