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Lake County records second COVID-19 case

MATT BALDWIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years AGO
by MATT BALDWIN
Hagadone Media Montana REGIONAL MANAGING EDITOR Matt Baldwin is the regional editor for Hagadone Media Montana, where he helps guide coverage across eight newspapers throughout Northwest Montana. Under his leadership, the Daily Inter Lake received the Montana Newspaper Association’s Sam Gilluly Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. A graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism, Baldwin has called Montana home for nearly 30 years. He and his wife, Sadie, have three daughters. He can be reached at 406‑758‑4447 or [email protected]. IMPACT: Baldwin’s work helps ensure Northwest Montana residents stay connected to their communities and informed about the issues that shape their everyday lives. | March 28, 2020 2:27 PM

Lake County recorded its second COVID-19 patient Saturday.

According to a notice from the CSKT-Lake County Unified Command Center, the patient is a woman in her 60s who recently traveled out of state to an area with a high number of coronavirus cases. The woman had been and remains in quarantine.

According to St. Luke Community Healthcare, the patient was initially screened and tested for COVID-19 at its curb-side Convenient Care. According to St. Luke, all medical providers who came in contact with the patient were wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

“In conjunction with the Lake County Health Department, appropriate follow up with the patient has occurred, and we believe exposure to others is limited,” a media release from St. Luke states. “We ask that the community continue to follow social distancing protocols, to prevent any potential spike in cases. Thank you for helping us by staying home.”

Lake County had its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Thursday. According to Lake County Public Health, the man in his 60s had been following the guidance to quarantine at home after being notified that he had been a close contact to a confirmed out-of-county case.

“The individual has not been out in the public since this contact, so at this time there appears to be low threat of exposure to the community,” the health department stated.

As of Saturday, Montana had 129 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Seven of those people are hospitalized, according to the Montana Department of Public Health.

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