BOZEMAN, MT – Gallatin County health officials tell us that outbreaks of the virus were detected in Big Sky as of Friday, June 26, including at Montana State University.
Gallatin City and County Health Department (GCCHD) health officer confirms that increases in cases can be seen in places like West Yellowstone, Big Sky and the rest of the Gallatin Valley, including the campus at State University Montana due to traveling visitors and other factors.
“This is serious and we need people to take it seriously,” says Matt Kelley, GCCHD health officer.
Kelley says that with the latest case confirmations, every precaution could make a difference.
“Our seven-day moving case average is now 50 percent more than it was two weeks ago,” says Kelley.
That includes in heavy tourism areas of the county and MSU.
“We are seeing cases come from many different parts of the county,” says Kelley. “We have cases in West Yellowstone. We have a fairly sizeable outbreak in Big Sky. We are working with Montana State University because we have five people in the state of Montana who have tested positive. “
Each case was captured with the help of contact tracing.
While the exact locations of each outbreak aren’t mentioned, Kelley says her department is working closely with sources they’ve found to track the spread.
“We work with MSU to make sure those people receive support,” says Kelley. “I’m sure they are going to be doing some communication with their team, with the students and staff there to make sure that they are aware that they have cases on campus.”
… Precautions, from staying home if you are sick to washing your hands, which Kelley says still hold.
“We need people to stay out of crowded environments,” says Kelley. “We need people, when they are in those environments, to turn around and leave.”
It also says that while visitors to the area could be easily spreading the virus, the numbers mostly rest on long-term visitors.
“What we usually see is cases of people who live and work here or at least have a part-time residence here,” says Kelley.
And the numbers are also rising for other reasons: the 14-day quarantine is gone; Yellowstone National Park has reopened and businesses are opening their doors again.
For now, Kelley says the health board is not planning to reverse the guidelines.
“That’s not something we’re not looking at any time soon,” says Kelley.
While cases rose 30 percent compared to early June, across the country, Kelley says Montana cases are still comparatively low.
That does not mean that our guard should be lowered
“We get case reports seven days a week and we’re really working hard,” says Kelley. “As a community we have the option to take this seriously.”
In the past week, 38 cases were found in Gallatin County, with 10 cases in Big Sky and two cases in West Yellowstone.
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