Bullock says increased testing for COVID-19 planned

Gov. Steve Bullock has set a goal to increase testing for COVID-19 in Montana to eventually conduct 60,000 tests per month.

Bullock on Wednesday outlined a plan to ramp up testing capacity over the next several months and prioritize testing for vulnerable Montanans in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, tribal communities and those with COVID-19 symptoms.

Bullock lifted a stay-at-home order on April 26 aimed at slowing the spread of the virus thus beginning a three-phased plan for reopening of the state. “As we enter phase one, we are committed to further ramping up our testing capacity in the state,” Bullock said in a release. “Among our core preparedness responsibilities is ensuring our ability to test symptomatic people for COVID-19 and trace contacts of COVID positive results, which we have been doing effectively. Additionally, we are ramping up efforts to support testing for vulnerable Montanans, our tribal communities, and those with COVID-19 symptoms as we continue to suppress the virus.”

The testing framework outlined will be supported by both federal and private partnerships. The federal government recently committed to supplying states with 12.7 million swabs each month beginning in May.

The state recently received 5,000 swabs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 10,000 more swabs to begin ramping up testing. Another 7,000 swabs from FEMA are expected to arrive Governor Bullock also sourced an additional 3,000 swabs from a private vendor that arrived.

The state lab will prioritize processing tests for those experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 and will continue to have a quick turnaround, according to the governor’s office. Other testing devices could include the rapid Abbott machines, equipment in hospitals, and partnerships with private labs will assist the state in boosting capacity.

Testing protocols will be scaled based upon availability of swabs and other testing supplies. Anyone with one or more symptoms of COVID-19, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent expanded list of symptoms, will be prioritized for testing.

Bullock continues to urge providers to test any Montanan with one or more symptoms.

Additionally, the state will begin a process to test residents and employees in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and will continue enhanced surveillance in those facilities. The state will also partner with tribal communities to perform enhanced surveillance testing.

As more testing becomes available, the state will begin partnering with community health centers for testing frontline workers and engaging in general population surveillance testing.

Bullock also established five strike teams made up of a certified nurse and National Guard Members to be deployed across Montana to respond to COVID-19 cases in nursing homes and long term care facilities or to provide training and assistance with proper infectious disease control protocols as requested.

Using funds from the CARES Act, Bullock is establishing a $5 million grant program available to local health departments, tribal public health, and urban Indian clinics to enhance existing COVID-19 contact tracing programs, support local businesses in developing plans to safely reopen and adhere to social distancing guidelines, and increase education or enforcement activity.