The week Jefferson County joined the emergency

Reported cases of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes, came later to Montana than most of the rest of the country. But soon after the last edition of The Monitor was printed, local urgency heightened quickly: Jefferson County declared a state of emergency and limited access to government offices, and Gov. Steve Bullock ordered the closure of numerous businesses to encourage social distancing and slow the virus’ spread.

What follows is a recap of what’s happened in Jefferson County since March 18.

March 18