Montana reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 1,099 new cases. That’s down 14.1% from the previous week’s tally of 1,279 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Montana ranked 16th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 7.7% from the week before, with 298,674 cases reported. With 0.32% of the country’s population, Montana had 0.37% of the country’s cases in the last week. Across the country, 13 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
Cascade County reported 70 cases and six deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 112 cases and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 28,370 cases and 365 deaths.
Hill County reported 14 cases and no deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 14 cases and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 5,136 cases and 73 deaths.
Teton County reported three cases and no deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 10 cases and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 1,466 cases and 27 deaths.
Glacier County reported nine cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 12 cases and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 4,481 cases and 77 deaths.
Pondera County reported four cases and no deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported eight cases and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 1,382 cases and nine deaths.
Fergus County reported six cases and no deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported six cases and no deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 2,815 cases and 60 deaths.
Across Montana, cases fell in 29 counties, with the best declines in Yellowstone County, with 140 cases from 184 a week earlier; in Cascade County, with 70 cases from 112; and in Lewis and Clark County, with 78 cases from 95.
>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases
Within Montana, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Chouteau County with 302 cases per 100,000 per week; Roosevelt County with 245; and Deer Lodge County with 230. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.
Adding the most new cases overall were Missoula County, with 171 cases; Yellowstone County, with 140 cases; and Flathead County, with 113. Weekly case counts rose in 14 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week’s pace were in Rosebud, Big Horn and Lake counties.
In Montana, 35 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, two people were reported dead.
A total of 311,830 people in Montana have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 3,555 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 96,699,237 people have tested positive and 1,062,564 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
Montana’s COVID-19 hospital admissions falling
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Oct. 9. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:
- Last week: 181
- The week before that: 198
- Four weeks ago: 229
Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:
- Last week: 50,835
- The week before that: 49,835
- Four weeks ago: 58,231
Hospitals in 18 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 15 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 29 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.
The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.
