There are about 1,000 COVID-19 tests available in Montana, and testing is ordered at the discretion of a person's health care provider, said Todd Harwell, administrator of the Public Health and Safety Division of the state health department. On Thursday at a press conference announcing the state-level emergency order, Harwell said the state has about 400 open medical-surgical hospital beds, though other types of beds could be adapted to use if needed.

Rich Rasmussen, president and chief executive officer at Montana Hospital Association, said Friday before news of the presumptive positives broke that hospitals and nursing homes around the state have been preparing. That's included communicating with each other, as well as state and federal agencies, to make sure facilities and employees are trained and ready, as well identifying needs and how to meet them. Hospitals submit to the state daily an inventory of their necessary supplies, as well as available beds. Rasmussen said there are waivers the state can explore to increase capacity and that those discussions are ongoing.

Rasmussen said that hospitals in Montana may face challenges with limited emergency medical transportation services. In many parts of the state that work is done by volunteers who are generally older, a population more vulnerable to the virus. It could become difficult for hospitals to move patients around the state if necessary.