Officials urge vaccination to slow COVID surge

As the delta-driven COVID surge increases in Montana and cases rise in this part of the state, officials are calling on people to take action to slow the spread.

"We need to all come together to slow down this pandemic,” Hill County Health Officer Kim Berg said in the Hill County Health Department update on new cases. "Get vaccinated if you can, cover your cough, wear a mask if you cannot socially distance, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands frequently, and stay home when you are sick.”

And in the Blaine County Health Department update, the release said the health department will continue to offer walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations Thursdays at the health department at 420A Ohio Street in Chinook. 

“Additionally, we will celebrate Fair Week by offering COVID-19 vaccines at the Blaine County Fair this Friday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the commercial building,” the release said.

Hill County reported five new cases in its update with 33 active cases.

Blaine County reported two new cases with four active cases.

The state tracking map this morning showed 10 active cases in Liberty County and one in Chouteau County.

Statewide, the update to the tracking map this morning reported Montana had 376 new cases with 2,523 active and 164 hospitalizations.

The nation has seen a major upswing in recent weeks as the delta variant, estimated to be at least twice as contagious as the original version of the virus seen in the United States, takes hold.

It is being called a pandemic of the unvaccinated at this point, with nearly all of the hospitalizations and deaths — 99 percent or more — happening in unvaccinated people.

The state map reports that 49 percent of eligible Montanans are fully vaccinated, with 46 percent in both Hill and Blaine counties, and 33 percent in Chouteau and Liberty counties.