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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 Announces 21 Newly-confirmed Cases of COVID-19 219 new cases of the coronavirus in October HARDIN, MONTANA (October 16, 2020) – Big Horn County added 21 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, October 16, 2020. Of the 21 new patients, 16 presented with and five were (without when tested. Nine patients were found through contact tracing of previously- reported patients and 12 likely contracted the virus through community spread, as there are no known contacts with previous cases at this time. The new cases are: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Under age 10 1 2 3 Age 10 – 19 1 1 2 Age 20 – 29 3 2 5 Age 30 – 39 3 2 5 Age 40 – 49 - - - Age 50 – 59 - 1 1 Age 60 – 69 2 2 4 Over age 70 1 - 1 Totals 11 10 21 Total confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Big Horn County: Age Ranges Female Male Totals Recovered Active Deaths Under age 10 50 54 104 Age 10 – 19 88 99 187 Age 20 – 29 103 96 199 Age 30 – 39 104 111 215 Age 40 – 49 78 58 136 Age 50 – 59 75 64 139 Age 60 – 69 69 60 129 Over age 70 48 36 84 Totals 615 578 1,193 1,037 122 34 Recoveries in Big Horn County remain increased by 74 to 1,037. 34 persons are deceased. Of the 122 active cases, 103 patients are quarantining and recovering at home. The number of Big Horn County resident patients currently hospitalized in the region is 19. Month Number of Cases Number of Deaths April 3 - May 27 - June 44 3 July 249 5 August 357 8 September 294 7 October to date (10/16/2020) 219 11 Total since Pandemic Began 1,193 34 ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 2 From late August through the first part of October, the seven-day average – which is used to show a trend line in a volatile situation – for new cases of COVID-19 was fairly steady between 9 and 11 new cases per day. However, with the increase in new cases over the last few days, the trend in new cases has risen, and reached over 15 new cases per day on Friday, October 16, 2020. With the rising trend in new COVID-19 cases, it is more important than ever to follow the three W’s: Wash your hands; Watch your distance from other people; Wear a mask. The County asks all residents to please continue stay home more often and to avoid events or gatherings. Also, the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Public Health ask everyone to wear a mask and social distance when outside of their homes and in public. Masks are required when engaged in indoor activities, such as shopping. Masks are not necessary in the event that residents are outdoors and unlikely to come within six feet of other people, such as while taking advantage of our beautiful county, to work, recreate, or exercise outside. Tracking down contacts to a positive case (contact tracing) 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 Nursing: (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 - 5 10 15 20 25 30 Big Horn County COVID-19 Cases Per Day 7-day Avg