Bullock details increasingly grim COVID-19 situation

Gov. Steve Bullock and Montana health officials delivered grim news about the state of COVID-19 in Montana and the U.S.

"We have a long winter ahead in Montana and, indeed, across the nation," Bullock said.

He said infections are at record levels, having passed 100,000 cases a day for seven consecutive days, with hospitalizations also setting records and nearly every state in the nation seeing uncontrollable spread.

"In Montana we too are seeing record hospitalizations and our death toll is on the rise," he said.

Bullock said just looking at the amount of time it takes for the state to reach its next milestone is enough to cause serious concern.

"It took a little over six months for Montana to reach it's first 10,000 cases," he said, "but only 25 days to reach the second 10,000 cases, and only 15 days to reach the third 10,000 cases by Oct. 28. It took 11 days to reach 40,000 cases on Nov. 8."

He said people still unconcerned with how the death toll and hospital capacity will affect things in the state should consider the effects the virus has on people's livelihoods.

Bullock said the challenges with implementing restrictions state-wide are mainly related to the finincial health of the people.

"I have grave concerns, ones that many in public health do too," he said, "about sending thousands of Montanans into the unemployment lines without any enhanced unemployment benefits. How will Montanans keep there heat on in their homes in these winter months and their families fed?"

He said the fact that Congress hasn't passed any relief packages or stimulus checks is a huge part of this problem, and he doesn't want businesses to be affected if they're doing things right.

"I've never wanted to punish the businesses that are doing right in this pandemic," he said. " ... Shutting down those businesses would do just that."

Instead, Bullock said, he's planning to enhance the state's enforcement efforts and said if everyone does what they need to be doing things will get better for the state.

He said he strongly urged people who live in hotspot communities to follow the measures put in place by their local health departments and his administration will continue to stand by their decisions.

Bullock said masks are still required in most counties and said the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations estimates that more than 600 lives in the state of Montana could be saved in the next few months if everyone followed the mask mandate.

He said his administration will not be hanging up their hats in the months to come and will do everything they can to help the next administration and set them up for success, including continuing to improve testing capacity and further building up the states stockpile of supplies.

Bullock said public servants in many sectors have all but given up their personal lives for the past few months to keep people safe and their efforts will continue during the next administration.

He said public health deserves the adoration of the public for their work under unprecedented circumstance, but, Montanans also need to follow their guidelines.

"Do it not for me, but for the many in crowded hospitals, to make sure that you can still seek care, he said. "Do it for those in our communities who are making sure that you can get a test or that a business can safely stay open. Do it for the thousands of kids who rely on their schools for more than education, for the parents working to keep the heat on and keep food on the table."

Montana's Chief Medical Officer Greg Holzman said Montanans need to work as a community to get the situation back under control.

He said many Montanans are following the guidance necessary to do their part, but far too many are not.

Holzman said the spread of this virus is stressing the health care system and public health cannot keep up with the contact tracing.

He said COVID-19 is now the fourth leading cause of death in Montana, and that's comparing only nine months worth of data to 12 months of a normal year.

Despite the scary sounding numbers, Holzman said, it's important to remember that these number represent human beings, parents, children and neighbors.

He also said the death toll isn't the only thing people should be worried about, with hospitalizations at their highest levels in the state and country, with four hospitals in Montana working at more than 100 percent of their capacity.

Holzman also said the long-term effects of COVID-19 are still not known even, and though most recover with minimal issue, consequences down the road may exist.

He said he's not trying to scare people, but people need to realize the situation Montana is in.

"I don't bring this up to scare people but we need to be very clear and respond now," he said. "Otherwise some of our darkest days could be before us."

Holzman said Montanans cannot simply wait for a vaccine, as even under the best circumstances there will not be one in the coming winter months.

He said a statewide stay-at-home order would help, but with no federal money to help people and it would put many families in dire straits.

"Please stop the arguing about what you'd don't want to do, and ask yourself what can I do, what can we do to protect our communities," he said, " ... Now, more than ever, it's all on us."

Holzman said part of this is, despite the natural desire for companionship and exhaustion with the virus, that people should really reconsider their holiday plans.

"This is not the time for any large family gatherings," he said.

The sentiment was echoed by Montana Chief Epidemiologist Stacey Anderson.

"We're all tired, we all miss our families," she said, "but the risk is just getting too high in some places."

She recommended that people should modify their plans to reduce spread, and that the higher the population and duration of gathering the riskier it is especially if travel is involved.

She recommended virtual celebrations, limiting attendees of in-person events.

Anderson encouraged people to wear masks properly, over the nose and all the way under the chin, and social distance as well as sanitize surfaces and wash hands.

This year, she said, food safety and preparation guidelines are more important than ever to prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses in a time when the health care system is already stretched.

She also recommended shopping online if people are looking to get Christmas gifts, and if they do go out they should take the time to get their influenza vaccine.

Anderson said these things are important as the situation in Montana continues to get worse.

She said at this point, one in every 24 Montanans have or have had COVID-19 and the state has been seeing over 1,000 new cases a day on average.

"240,000 people nationwide have died due to COVID-19," Anderson said, "That's 240,000 people who aren't going to be here this holiday season."

She said there is a haiku she thinks everyone should hear that she recently saw written by Meria Marom: "We isolate now, so that when gather again, no one is missing."

Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Chief Jim Murphy also provided an update on the state's testing situation, and said they will be receiving federal resources for 230,000 rapid tests by year's end.

Murphy also said a vaccine distribution plan is being developed at the state level and cold storage areas are in the works.

He said Phase One of the vaccine's distribution for those at highest risk, including the elderly, Native American populations and health care workers, is well on it's way, but guidance for further phases has yet to be received form the federal government.

Bullock said he hopes the excessive skepticism some people toward public health measures will not extend to the vaccine and he hopes everyone will get it.