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The latest news about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Montana.

Coronavirus Leaves Blackfeet Issuing Stay-At-Home Order

Sign saying "Welcome to Blackfeet Indian Country."
Will Marlow (CC-BY-NC-2)

The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is now under a mandatory 14-day stay-at-home order after health officials reported the reservation’s first COVID-19 cases. Blackfeet and Glacier County officials identified nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents over the weekend.

Tribal and county officials say all nine people who tested positive are quarantined, and any close contacts have been notified.

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council implemented the stay-at-home order Saturday, saying there’s the potential the disease is community spread on the reservation. The council is also calling for a halt of all social gatherings. This includes any held at recently reopened restaurants and campgrounds, as well as other resident group events.

This development follows tribal leaders’ decision to close reservation roads leading to the east entrances of Glacier National Park for the remainder of the tourism season. Tribe officials said the move is meant to protect vulnerable residents.

The Glacier County Health Department now reports 12 active cases in the county, including the nine on reservation.

Most of the state continues on with Phase 2 of Gov. Steve Bullock’s reopening plan. The state announced 56 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the largest single-day spike since the pandemic reached Montana.

Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.
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