GREAT FALLS — There were 541 new COVID cases reported in Montana as of Saturday morning, and the statewide death toll has reached 899, according to data compiled by MTN News during a 24-hour period.
The number of active cases in the state is currently 7,960, according to MTN News, and there has been a cumulative total of 76,941 cases of the virus in Montana. Of the total cases, 68,082 have recovered. There are currently 267 people hospitalized for treatment of the virus; there has been a total of 3,248 people hospitalized due to COVID.
The counties with the most deaths to date are:
- Big Horn: 59
- Blaine: 23
- Cascade: 91
- Dawson: 23
- Flathead: 51
- Gallatin: 30
- Glacier: 31
- Hill: 34
- Lewis & Clark: 31
- Missoula: 46
- Roosevelt: 51
- Rosebud: 27
- Silver Bow: 38
- Yellowstone: 147
SOURCES: The numbers reported above reflect the latest data from the official Montana COVID website as well as supplemental data from county health departments. The disparity between numbers provided by the MT Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS) and numbers from county health departments continues to grow as COVID cases escalate in Montana. MTN News uses both state data and county data to provide more accurate and timely information. As a result, numbers reported by MTN do not align with the DPHHS figures.
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CONTEXT: Not every person who tests positive actually becomes ill or exhibits symptoms. Many do not; of those who do become sick, some experience mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization. Others experience more severe symptoms, and some do require hospitalization. Every person who tests positive for COVID, however, has the potential to spread the virus to other people, including family members and friends, which is why public health officials continue to encourage everyone to wear a mask and maintain at least the recommended six feet of "social distance" when in public. The CDC released data in late August which emphasizes that people with contributing or chronic medical conditions are at much greater risk of dying from COVID-19. Click here to read more.
VACCINE: Governor Steve Bullock on Friday announced that the second week round of allocations of COVID-19 vaccines will target healthcare workers at rural hospitals and staff and residents of long-term care facilities. He also said that the state’s anticipated allocation of vaccine doses through the end of the year has been reduced by the federal government by 20% -- from 60,000 down to 48,000 along with other states across the nation. As of today, the vaccine has been administered to more than 3,000 Montana healthcare workers since the vaccine first became available earlier this week to 10 Montana hospitals. The remaining doses will be administered in the coming days. Click here to read more.