Masking mandate for MT is a good step and I applaud @GovernorBullock for it.

But it’s only one step. The @imperialcollege report on nonpharmacologic control of C19 spread estimate up to a 29% reduction in spread.

Our contact tracing capacity is still a BIG Problem…

Example: i know of a case that was at a family BBQ 5d ago. All outdoors. Large group from across wMT.

He’s fine. Feels fine. Has been working.

Informed today that a family member tested positive.

He’s not been contacted by anyone. Not public health.

It’s crickets...

He asks. Should be work? Should he isolate? Is his family safe? We talked it out he’s likely ok.

But, it would be appropriate for contact tracers to be in touch with everyone at the BBQ. Monitor them daily. Tell them if and how to isolate.

But Sanders County has 1 public health nurse and at most 5 contact tracers. This is a lot of work for one case in a county of 11,000 ppl.

And it’s the same problem elsewhere.

Too many cases, not enough tracers.

To keep our economy open requires that we have an Army of contact tracers. Hundreds of people ready to call, track down, and monitor potential cases.

The next step in keeping our state open is strengthening our contact tracing Army.