HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte hosted a news conference to "provide an update on Montana’s progress in responding to the pandemic," according to the governor's office. Gianforte was joined by General Matt Quinn, executive director of Governor Gianforte’s COVID-19 Task Force; and Dr. Greg Holzman, Montana’s state medical officer.
There were 330 new COVID-19 cases reported in Montana on Friday, and the statewide death toll since the pandemic began has now reached 1,225, according to data compiled by MTN News. The number of active cases in the state is currently 3,640 according to MTN News, and there has been a cumulative total of 93,635 cases of the virus in Montana. Of the total cases, 88,770 have recovered. There are currently 103 people hospitalized for treatment of the virus, and the cumulative number of hospitalizations is 4,217.
The number of Montanans who have received at least one of the two vaccine shots is 99,248; the number of Montanans who have received both shots and are now fully vaccinated is 24,519.
VACCINES: The Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services on Monday launched a new feature on the state COVID website to report the number of vaccinations administered; the data is presented for each of Montana's 56 counties.
DATA SOURCES: The numbers reported above reflect the latest data from the official Montana COVID website as well as updated information from county health departments. MTN News uses 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. Visit the state site for county-specific data.
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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.
