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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Johnson, Public Information Officer, Big Horn County (406) 679-0572 Big Horn County Confirms Ten (10) Additional Cases of COVID-19 14 newly-confirmed positive test results today HARDIN, MONTANA (May 29, 2020) – Big Horn County added ten (10) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 Friday afternoon. One person was tested because of while nine were tested as a result of contact with previously-tested positive patients, so-called “contact tracing” done by public health nurses of the contacts of infectious patients. Together with the four positive test results announced this morning, the addition of these 10 cases brings the total of newly-confirmed positive cases in Big Horn County today, May 29, 2020, to 14. None of the 14 were tested at recent sentinel surveillance testing events in the County. The ten (10) newly-confirmed cases this afternoon are: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Under age 10 1 1 2 Age 10 – 19 1 3 4 Age 20 – 29 1 - 1 Age 30 – 39 1 - 1 Age 40 – 49 - 1 1 Age 50 – 59 - - - Age 60 – 69 1 - 1 Over age 70 - - - Totals 5 5 10 Total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Big Horn County: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Recovered Active Under age 10 1 2 3 Age 10 – 19 4 6 10 Age 20 – 29 4 1 5 Age 30 – 39 1 1 2 Age 40 – 49 - 2 2 Age 50 – 59 1 - 1 Age 60 – 69 2 1 3 Over age 70 - - - Totals 13 13 26 8 18 Eight of the earlier confirmed-positive patients have recovered. Of the remaining 18 patients, 17 are quarantining and recovering at home. One patient is hospitalized. The Big Horn County Public Health Department and Indian Health Service (IHS) Public Health Nursing are currently tracing the contacts of all these new cases. All close contacts will be notified, interviewed, and given instructions for further action if required. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 2 IHS Public Health Nursing and Big Horn County Public Health want to remind all residents of Big Horn County of the best ways to prevent the transmission of this illness: stay home; wash your hands thoroughly and often; clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces and items; wear a mask when in public; stay at least six feet away from other people; and avoid travel out of the County if at all possible. And if you are feeling sick, do not go to work or leave your home; rather, contact your healthcare provider for guidance. Tracking down contacts to a positive case is one of the best tools public health can use to slow the spread of the virus. If you believe you were in the presence of a recently confirmed COVID-19 case for more than five minutes, please call public health so that a nurse may interview you and determine what level of exposure you have: • IHS Public Health: (406) 638-3478 • Big Horn County Public Health: (406) 665-8720 Big Horn County is the sixth largest county in Montana, at approximately 5,023 square miles, and with a population exceeding 13,000. The local government was established January 13, 1913. Hardin is the County Seat. For more information about the County’s COVID-19 response, please visit our Facebook page at