Bullock says state secured more coronavirus tests

Gov. Steve Bullock announced Monday he secured 19,500 swabs and 9,000 coronavirus transport medium from the federal government.

The supplies and tests will be used to continue the effort to test symptomatic Montanans and ramp up testing to protect vulnerable Montanans in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and in tribal communities, Bullock said.

“As we continue on the path of reopening, it’s critical we have consistent access to supplies to identify new cases and ambitiously contact trace to remove chains of transmission and continue to contain the virus,” Bullock said in a release. “I will continue to work with the federal government and private suppliers to ensure we receive the consistent supply chain we need to reach our testing targets.”

Bullock recently announced a framework to boost testing over the next several months, including a goal to eventually conduct 60,000 tests per month and prioritize testing for vulnerable Montanans in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, tribal communities, and ensure there are enough supplies to continue testing Montanans with COVID-19 related symptoms.

Last week, the state worked with nursing homes and assisted living facilities on logistics for testing and is working with facilities to schedule testing over the next several weeks.

As of Monday there were 459 confirmed cases, four people hospitalized and 20 active cases. Four-hundred and twenty-three have recovered. Sixteen people have died and 22,572 have been tested.