Lake County woman visiting Maryland tests positive for COVID-19, state gets 6 additional positive cases
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News from the Office of the Governor, Montana DPHHS
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock provided an update on the Montanan visiting Maryland who tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 last week. Maryland investigators reported to DPHHS that the patient was last in Montana on November of 2019 and has not returned to the state since this time and was not in the state during the 14-day incubation period.
“Since the case was announced, public health officials have been working nonstop to learn more about this case and can now confirm the patient did not have coronavirus while she was in Montana,” Bullock said. “We will continue to monitor the patient in Maryland and remain committed to preparing for coronavirus to reach Montana.”
The patient is a resident of Lake County, Montana, and is in her 70s. She’s currently being hospitalized at an Anne Arundel County hospital in Maryland. The presumptive positive test was confirmed on March 10. Given the individuals’ known travel history and the 14-day incubation period related to COVID-19, we believe this individual did not have coronavirus while in Montana.
Maryland health officials contacted the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services communicable disease staff on Wednesday to report a Montana resident tested positive for COVID-19. DPHHS immediately began to confirm information and work to acquire the patient’s travel history. Maryland health officials are the lead investigators regarding any close contacts and any other preventive health measures and will continue to work with DPHHS as they learn more.
Because the patient is a resident of Montana, the CDC classifies the patient as a Montana case. This is a common practice for national surveillance. As of Monday, March 16, Montana has 7 positive COVID-19 cases. In addition to the Lake County woman who remains in Maryland, there are two cases in Missoula County, one in Gallatin County, one in Lewis and Clark County, one in Silver Bow County and one in Yellowstone County.
