Bullock: Montanans need to continue to protect each other in Phase One re-opening

Gov. Steve Bullock made some clarifications Friday during a press call about the re-opening of the state.

“I’d like to reiterate how important it is that Montanans continue to go to great lengths to protect themselves and one another in these coming weeks,” he said. “Like I said on Wednesday, there is no expiration date for this phase. The virus is still in Montana, it will be with us for some time that means we may be in Phase One also for a long time.”

He said Montanans need to remember that Phase One is not going back to what was here before the crisis started.

“In this next stage, every step that we take is just as important as ever in responding to this crisis. This is not the time for celebratory barbecues, or going out to dinner, bars and breweries each and every night. This is a time where we all need to be creating another new normal.”

Bullock said in order to determine when the state is moving to the next phase, the state needs to see what happens with the virus in Montana.

“We won’t be moving out of Phase One if the curve doesn’t remain flat. Montanans need to be as mindful as ever in this approach, for a lot of Montanans, particularly our most vulnerable, this phase should be substantially the same as the stay-at-home period,” he added. “The more protective actions Montanans take now and in the coming weeks the more likely that we’ll keep that curve flat. In this new normal, I’ll continue to emphasize all along that our personal responsibilities to adhere to strict social distancing, businesses to share responsibilities that creatively navigate how to resume to some normalcy and certain customers.”

As for the school districts, he said, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution and the local school board knows what’s best for its schools and students.

He said the schools have his support whether they choose to remain closed or open up in some capacity.

Getting out of this phase, he said, relies on the individual actions and personal responsibility of Montanans.

Since Montanans took this virus seriously and acted responsibly, the state is able to enter into this first phase, he added.

He said an updated epidemiological report was released by the Department of Public Health and Human Services that summarized Montana had 426 positive cases as of April 17.

“The report also underscores the age demographics continue to stay consistent with those between 20 to 29 years of age accounting for 20 percent for all COVID-19 cases in Montana,” Bullock said.

The next common age group, he said, is 50 to 59 years of age at 19 percent, followed by 30 to 39 years of age at 16 percent and 60 to 69 making up 16 percent of reported cases.

He said 52 percent of the cases reported were female and 48 percent were male.

He added that Montana’s rates are low compared to other states.

“As of April 17, Montana had 39.5 cases per 100,000 people while Wyoming had 71.2,  North Dakota had 57.6, Such Dakota had 159.5 per 100,000 and Idaho had 92.6,” Bullock said. “Our local public health departments have done an excellent job with contact tracing, providing information to the state that helps makes us make dated and informed decisions.

“… It is important to recognize as we see the numbers of COVID-19 positive cases in Montana, it’s important to also see and recognize individuals recovering,” he said.

He said Montana has had the resources to consistently perform contact tracing since COVID-19 was first identified in the state.

As a state, he said, entering into Phase One will provide support for contact tracing beyond the support.

“There are certainly challenges that remain and we will all do our part to mitigate those challenges,” Bullock said. “… Part of our plan to re-open includes bolstering our testing capacity further. Among our core preparedness responsibilities is making sure that we have the ability to test symptomatic people for COVID-19 and trace contacts of COVID positive results.”

  For weeks, he said, he’s been “encouraging” every doctor and health care provider to test every Montanan who is symptomatic. 

He added that in Phase One the state is developing a plan for sentinel sites to screen in for at-risk communities.

“You certainly have my assurance that we’ll continue to work each and every day to bolster that testing capacity. This work won’t end in Phase One, it won’t end at any time while I’m serving as governor,” he said.

“Montana was early in combating this virus. We’ve taken the right spots at the right time, this allows us to be among the first to be able to take responsible next steps,” Bullock added. “I truly believe that Montana could be a model for other states to follow in this next phase, but it’s just that, we have to continue to be that model together.”