Montana lands $5M from CDC to enhance testing as it begins phased reopening
Montana received a funding boost from the Centers for Disease Control on Thursday to enhance its testing capabilities as it prepares for a phased reopening and works to reboot its economy. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines said the state will receive $5 million in funding earmarked for enhanced contact tracing and testing, and to protect vulnerable populations and high risk individuals. Gov. Steve Bullock laid out his plans for the phased approach this week. The state’s stay-at-home order will expire Sunday and some Main Street businesses will reopen on Monday. Others will follow shortly after. At the University of
Daines Visits UM on COVID Vaccine – then to Hellgate Elementary
The Center for Translational Medicine at the University of Montana recently received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to identify and advance a COVID 19 vaccine. Montana Senator Steve Daines visited the campus on Thursday and received a tour of the center and spoke to the researchers about the effort to find a COVID 19 vaccine. “I had an outstanding brief from the scientists at the University of Montana who are doing cutting edge research on developing a vaccine for COVID 19,” said Daines. “To think that some of the best research and the best scientists
University of Montana researchers working toward COVID-19 vaccine
Researchers at the University of Montana are working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine with the help of a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The University of Montana has become a leader in vaccine development, ever since a team led by Jay Evans joined UM in 2016, after pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline downsized its operations in Hamilton, and the research team moved to Missoula. Evans and his team at UM’s Center for Translational Medicine began working on the vaccine after being contacted by the NIH in February, prompting them to get to work on COVID-19 research while the federal grant
Daines Secures Over $4 Million in Funding for MSU to Help Rural Hospitals During the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be directing $4,047,216 to Montana State University to support small rural hospitals in Montana through expansions of telehealth, more purchases of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and boosting testing capacity. “This funding will help our health experts at MSU support our critical access hospitals and rural communities during the coronavirus pandemic,” Daines said. “I will continue working around the clock with our healthcare professionals to ensure we get them the resources they need to protect the health and safety of Montanans.”
Daines Secures $5.5 Million to Support Montana Seniors, Montanans with Disabilities Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $5,524,715 will be directed to Montana to fund programs that provide home-delivered meals, care services in the home, respite care and other support services to help meet the needs of older Montanans and individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 emergency. “This is about ensuring we get the folks most at risk during this Coronavirus pandemic the help and support they need,” Daines said. “I fought to ensure our Montana seniors and those with disabilities have access to vital services like home delivered meals and in-home care services so we can
Daines talks reopening Montana, Washington relief
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., outlined the importance of a phased reopening of the Montana economy while discussing COVID-19 relief efforts on Capitol Hill during a virtual chat with the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning. Daines said the good news is that Montana has seen a steady decline in confirmed COVID-19 cases – with zero reported on Sunday and just four on Monday – but the bad news is the statewide shutdown has resulted in 75,000 unemployed Montanans. “We prepared for the worst but thankfully the worst didn’t happen,” Daines said. He said it is time to consider
Daines: Montana Farmers and Ranchers are Now Eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana’s farmers, ranchers and ag businesses will be eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Today’s announcement follows Daines’ request to the Small Business Association urging them to grant farms, ranches and ag businesses the opportunity to apply for the EIDL program. “This is great news for Montana’s farmers and ranchers as they head into the spring planting season. Ensuring our farmers and ranchers have access to this program is critical to making sure they can continue to maintain our nation’s food supply chain
Daines Helps Secure Over $480 Billion for Hospitals, Testing, Small Businesses During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured a boost of over $480 billion in funding for testing, hospitals, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) to provide more relief for Montana small businesses, workers, families and healthcare professionals in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is not Phase Four of Congress’ response to the coronavirus outbreak. This bipartisan deal is a boost in funding from the Coronavirus Economic Relief Package which was signed into law on March 27th, 2020 to protect public health, and provide relief for Montana small businesses, workers
Montana adds 4 COVID-19 cases, total now 437 — and 273 recoveries
Four new cases of coronavirus were reported in Montana on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 437. And of those, 273 cases have recovered and there have been 12 deaths due to the respiratory illness. The state reports at covid19.mt.gov there are 14 who remain hospitalized out of 59 hospitalizations and 11,241 tests have been performed. That’s an increase of 190 tests from Monday. Also on Tuesday, the governor said he was able to get more masks, shields and other protective gear for health care workers. Two of the newest cases were in Gallatin County, which now has 145. Yellowstone reported one new case